The Just War: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

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John Kelsay is Florida State University’s Distinguished Research Professor and Richard L. Rubenstein Professor of Religion. With his analyses of religion, fundamentalism and terrorism quoted in media around the world, Professor Kelsay is a leading religious ethics scholar who focuses on Islamic and Christian traditions. He provides an oft-quoted and authoritative voice in both the academy and the community.Kelsay’s work explores some of the prevailing religious questions of our day. In his latest critically acclaimed book, “Arguing the Just War in Islam,” Kelsay examines the concept of jihad and shows that Islamic thinkers have debated the ethics of war and of specific military tactics going all the way back to the time of the prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago. That debate continues today, he says.

Transcript of The Just War: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

The Changing

Face of WarDate: 14-20 November 2011Location:www.wileyblackwellexchanges.com

Keynote Lecture:

The Just War:  Historical and Comparative Perspectives

Professor John Kelsay(Richard L. Rubenstein Professor of Religion at Florida State)

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Photo: Harry Wad

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Cicero

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St. Ambrose of Milan

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St. Augustine

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St. Thomas Aquinas

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Just War Criteria:Ius ad bellum (resort to war)• Right authority• Just cause• Right intention

o overall proportionalityo reasonable hope of

successo timely resorto impact on international

order (aim of peace)

Ius in bello (war conduct)• Distinguish between

military and civilian targets (lists of protected persons)

• Proportionality between tactics/weapons and value of targets attacked

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TitlePhoto: Deutsche Fotothek

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Photo: Flickr user ~crystalina~

The orders of the Prophet:Whenever God’s Messenger sent forth an army or a detachment, he charged

its commander personally to fear God, the Most High, and he enjoined the Muslims who were with him to do good. He said: Fight in the name of God and in the path of God. Fight the mukaffirun [ingrates, unbelievers]. Do not cheat or commit treachery, and do not mutilate anyone or kill children. When you meet the mushrikun [idolaters], invite them to accept Islam. If they do, accept it and let them alone. You should then invite them to move from their territory to the territory of the emigres. If they do so, accept it and leave them alone…If they refuse, then call upon them to pay tribute. If they do, accept it and leave them alone…

The Prophet forbade the killing of women…the old…the lame…the insane…monks…