Political Science POLS-Y 219 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Jus Ad Bellum, Kenneth Waltz, Just War Theory
17 Nov 2016
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The objective could be political, economic, competition for the acquisition of territory, even ascendancy of ideas-all of these or none of these. His definition of war grows out of his basic philosophy and understanding of international relations, the conduct of war is a military opinion, but the decision to go to war is a political one. To him, a country is justified in going to war when other policy options fail. Just war is normative in scope and is steeped in western and christian doctrine and morality. War can only be waged as a last resort, after all other alternatives have been exhausted. War can only be waged by a legitimate government or authority. War can only be undertaken to correct a wrong, and never for revenge; or it can be waged to restore justice after an injury has been inflicted. War must have a reasonable chance of succeeding.
