PEACE AND WAR
kEY PRINCIPLES OF A 'JUST WAR'
President Carter's Principles
These First Seven key principles of a "Just War" are from an article written by the former president of the United States James Carter. The moral principles listed were in his eyes the principles that make a war 'just' if that is even possible
Principle One
A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.
Principle Two
A war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate authority. Even just causes cannot be served by actions taken by individuals or groups who do not constitute an authority sanctioned by whatever the society and outsiders to the society deem legitimate.
Principle Three
A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered. For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause (although the justice of the cause is not sufficient--see point #4). Further, a just war can only be fought with "right" intentions: the only permissible objective of a just war is to redress the injury.
Principle Four
A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable.
Principle Five
The ultimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought.
Principle Six
The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. States are prohibited from using force not necessary to attain the limited objective of addressing the injury suffered.
Principle Seven
The weapons used in war must discriminate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissible targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target.
The Just War Theory
These principles were formed and also represent what makes a 'just war'. They are very similar and simpler to President Carter's principles.
Principle One
A country has a right to defend itself from attack
Principle Two
It is being fought by the authority of the United Nations
Principle Three
It is being fought with the intention restoring peace
Principle Four
The war is being fought as a last resort
Principle Five
There has to be a reasonable chance of success for both sides
Principle Six
The methods used avoid Killing civilians
Principle Seven
The force used must be proportional to the cause
The Just War Theory
The Just War Theory