- Published: November 14, 2021
- Updated: November 14, 2021
- University / College: Macquarie University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 31
Just War TheoryWar is chaotic; it involves sacrifices, bloodshed and collateral damages. In the last century alone, despite treaties and agreements, the world had witnessed several wars.
The United States had specifically undergone three major wars; World War II, the Vietnam War and the War on Terror. Throughout history, kingdoms and sovereignties engaged in wars to conquer, to protect and to retaliate. The reason lies on the fact that governments are established to provide security and establish order in its territory.
To this end, the just war theory was established as a guidance to what can be considered as acceptable reason for wars. The just war theory had evolved from the Christian tradition. According to Mark Evans (3), during the 4th century, St.
Augustine of Hippo concluded that “ the resort to violence is justified but regrettable. It must be noted that the Christian tradition preaches the concept of “ loving one’s enemy”. Why then would someone rendered as a Saint argue in favor of the justification for violence? Augustine stressed that “ only if no other alternative remains viable” would the use of violence be necessary (Evans, 3). Furthermore, wars or violence should not be used excessively; it must be based on ethical intentions and must be organized through legitimate means. The idea of the just war tradition was carried out by the Crusaders with the concept of expanding the Peace of God which acknowledge the immunity of the non-combatants. Evans cited Francesco de Vitoria for opposing the Spaniard’s use of war in their conquest of the New World (4). De Vitoria argued that the justification of war against people who did not share the same religion is flawed because justice is a product of natural law which is shared equally among all human beings.
The final components of the just war theory was accredited to Hugo Grotius who argued that the war can be justified if it has a just cause (4). The just cause of war was when it was used as a form of defense against threat or actual attack. Work Cited: Evans, Mark. Just War Theory: A reappraisal. Edinburgh University Press, 2005.
