The idea that war is sometimes justified is deeply embedded in public consciousness. But it is only credible so long as we believe that the ethical standards of just war are in fact realizable in practice.
In this engaging book, Christopher Finlay elucidates the assumptions underlying just war theory and defends them from a range of objections, arguing that it is a regrettable but necessary reflection of the moral realities of international politics. Using a range of historical and contemporary examples, he demonstrates the necessity of employing thetheory on the basis of careful moral appraisal of real-life political landscapes andstriking a balance between theoretical ideals and the practical realities of conflict.
This book will be a crucial guide to the complexities of just war theory for all studentsand scholars of the ethics and political theory of war.
