A Matter of Principle: Humanitarian Arguments for War in Iraq
A Matter of Principle: Humanitarian Arguments for War in Iraq
Cite
Abstract
Current debate over the motives, ideological justifications, and outcomes of the war with Iraq has been strident and polarizing. This book is the first volume gathering critical voices from around the world to offer an alternative perspective on the prevailing pro-war and anti-war positions. The contributors—political figures, public intellectuals, scholars, church leaders, and activists—represent the most powerful views of liberal internationalism. Offering alternative positions that challenge the status quo of both the left and the right, these chapters claim that, in spite of the inconsistent justifications provided by the United States and its allies and the conflict-ridden process of social reconstruction, the war in Iraq has been morally justifiable on the grounds that Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant, a flagrant violator of human rights, a force of global instability and terror, and a threat to world peace. The chapters discuss the limitations of the current system of global governance, which tolerates gross violations of human rights and which has failed to prevent genocide in places such as Bosnia and Rwanda. They also underscore the need for reform in international institutions and international law. At the same time, the chapters do not necessarily attempt to apologize for the mistakes, errors, and deceptions in the way the Bush administration has handled the war. Disputing the idea that the only true liberal position on the war is to be against it, this book charts an invaluable third course, a path determined by a strong liberal commitment to human rights, solidarity with the oppressed, and a firm stand against fascism, totalitarianism, and tyranny.
-
Front Matter
-
Introduction: The Liberal-Humanitarian Case for War in Iraq
Thomas Cushman
-
Part One Reconsidering Regime Change
-
Part Two Philosophical Arguments
-
Part Three Critiques of the Left
-
8
A Friendly Drink in a Time of War
Paul Berman
-
9
Wielding the Moral Club
Ian Buruma
-
10
Peace, Human Rights, and the Moral Choices of the Churches
Mient Jan Faber
-
11
Ethical Correctness and the Decline of the Left
Jonathan Rée
-
12
Pages from a Daily Journal of Argument
Norman Geras
-
13
Liberal Realism or Liberal Idealism: The Iraq War and the Limits of Tolerance
Richard Just
-
8
A Friendly Drink in a Time of War
-
Part Four European Dimensions
-
Part Five Solidarity
-
18
Antitotalitarianism as a Vocation: An Interview with Adam Michnik
Thomas Cushman andAdam Michnik
-
19
Sometimes, a War Saves People
Jose Ramos-Horta
-
20
Gulf War Syndrome Mark II: The Case for Siding with the Iraqi People
Johann Hari
-
21
“They Don’t Know One Little Thing”
Pamela Bone
-
22
“Why Did It Take You So Long to Get Here?”
Ann Clwyd
-
18
Antitotalitarianism as a Vocation: An Interview with Adam Michnik
-
Part Six Liberal Statesmanship
-
End Matter
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMonth: | Total Views: |
---|---|
January 2023 | 1 |
April 2023 | 4 |
April 2023 | 2 |
April 2023 | 3 |
April 2023 | 5 |
April 2023 | 4 |
December 2023 | 1 |
December 2023 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
October 2024 | 1 |
October 2024 | 1 |
October 2024 | 1 |
October 2024 | 1 |
November 2024 | 3 |
November 2024 | 1 |
November 2024 | 2 |
December 2024 | 4 |
December 2024 | 4 |
December 2024 | 4 |
December 2024 | 3 |
January 2025 | 1 |
January 2025 | 1 |
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.