Just WarWhen is war the

answer?Modern World History, by Dan McDowell. Teaching Point, ©2004

Divide your page into 6 sections.

• Just War=

Questions to ponder

• When should a country go to war? Describe three instances.

• Which of the above instances are YOU willing to fight for? Die for? Justify your answer.

Just War Theory• A moral defense of war.• Developed by Christians in the 5th

century to balance the beliefs of Christianity with the need to go to war.

• A system to justify the use of force.• Principles include: Just cause,

competent authority, right intention, last resort, probability of success, proportionality

1. Just Cause

• War is permissible only to confront a real and certain danger.

Example• Country A is invaded by

Country B, Country A must go to war.

Non-Example• Country B invades

Country A because Country A’s leader might attack them sometime in the future.

2. Competent Authority

• War must be declared by those with responsibility for public order.

Example• The President of

Country A declares war on Country B.

Non-Example• The newspapers in

Country A declare war on Country B. After the fighting has started, the President declares war.

3. Right Intention

• Motives for responding to the cause must be just, they must be in line with the Just Cause.

Example• Country C enters the

war because Country B is a friend and the invasion by Country A is a violation of international law

Non-Example• Country C enters the

war because Country B offered money.

4. Last Resort

• All peaceful alternatives must have been exhausted.

Example• Country A attempted to

settle differences with Country B, but Country B refuse to negotiate.

Non-Example• Country A invaded

without attempting to work out problems with Country B.

5. Probability of Success

• Must have reasonable grounds for believing that cause can be achieved.

Example• Before Country C

decides to get involved in the war, it measures its military power with potential enemies.

Non-Example• Country C brings a

knife to a gun fight.

6. Proportionality

• Must be confident that resorting to war will do more good than harm.

Example• Country C enters the

war, helps Country A and is able to restore peace to the world.

Non-Example• Country B wins the war,

but suffers so many costs and human loses, that it takes 50 years to recover.

Just War Scenarios?Recent Past Conflicts• NATO Intervention in Kosovo in 1999• The Persian Gulf WarCurrent/Future Conflicts• U.S. War on Terrorism (current)• India/Pakistan War (future?)• Iraq/ Afghanistan and U.S. War (future?).

(Although U.S. officially at war on terrorism in these countries, The US is working towards democracy with their gov.- allied with those presidents to help them defeat extremists)