1. Just War
When is war the answer?

2. 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.

3. Just War Theory A moral defense for war. Developed by Christians
in the 5th century to
balance the beliefs of
Christianity with the
need to go to war.
Saint Augustine ( )

4. Jus ad bellum Principles Include: Just Cause Legitimate Authority
(what justifies going to war)
Principles Include:
Just Cause
Legitimate Authority
Right Intention
Probability of Success
Proportionality
Last Resort

5. Just Cause War is permissible only Example: 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.
German Troops invade Poland 1939

6. Legitimate Authority War must be declared by Example:
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.
British Prime Minister Chamberlain declares
war on Germany.

7. Right Intention Motives for responding Example: 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:
because Country B offers
money.
“Our Conscience is Clear”

8. Last Resort All peaceful alternatives Example:
must have been exhausted.
Example:
Country A attempted to settle
differences with Country B,
but Country B refused to
negotiate.
Non Example:
Country A invaded without
attempting to work out
problems with Country B.
Chamberlain and Hitler meet in 1938

9. Probability of Success
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.
Must have reasonable
grounds for believing
that cause can be
achieved.
British RAF prepares to defend Britain

10. Proportionality Must be confident that Example: 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.
FDR Declares War

11. Just War Scenarios
You will now be broken into groups to analyze past and
potential conflicts.
You must study the conflict, then determine if the war
can be justified by the criteria outlined in the Just War
Theory.

12. Jus in bello Non-Combatant Immunity No Atrocious Weapons
(how combatants must act)
Non-Combatant Immunity
No Atrocious Weapons
Proportionality
Prisoners of War (POW’S) Treated Humanely
No Reprisals
No Repression of one’s own civilians

13. Jus post bellum Just cause for termination
(how war must be terminated)
Just cause for termination
Public Declaration and Authority
Right Intention
Discrimination
Proportionality