Extract

There is a serious disconnect between scholars exploring just war theory and those engaging the Christian just war tradition. The language of religion is foreign to many in the secular camp thereby leaving us bereft of a rich and sometimes compelling perspective. Provocatively titled, In Defence of War brings this tradition to the fore. It is well worth the read.

In Defence of War is a collection of related although not entirely integrated essays. Chapters 2-4 discuss principles that regulate or constrain the conduct of war: retribution, vengeance, intention, the double effect, proportionality and necessity. Chapter 4 also includes a fascinating analysis of WWI. Chapters 7 and 8 continue with case studies of Kosovo and Iraq. The book opens (and ends) with critical discussion of Christian pacifism. In between, Biggar takes on David Rodin and shows that while Rodin has a legitimate bone to pick with ‘orthodox’, Walzerian just war theory, he would be quite at home with the classical thinkers of the Christian just war tradition who frame just war not in terms of self-defence but in terms of ‘restraining and punishing injustice’ (p. 212).

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