CAN WAR EVER BE ETHICAL? PERSPECTIVES ON JUST WAR THEORY AND THE HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION CONCEPT
Abstract
Throughout recorded history, war has been a part of human life. Sometimes war is waged for survival, sometimes it is waged in order to protect self-interests, and sometimes it is waged in order to extend those interests. According to the relatively new concept of humanitarian intervention, military force can be used for humanitarian purposes, in order to prevent human rights violations. However, any conflict or war has losses, materially and morally. On this account, it can be said that just war theory has been developed in order to prevent a huge amount of losses and in order to ensure that war is only waged when it can be justified.
The roots of just war theory and humanitarian intervention can be found within the major religions. Christianity and Islam in particular put forward several arguments opposing wanton war and aiming to terminate mass killing. Furthermore, different civilisations employ different methods during war. For instance, from the early ages, war has intrinsically involved developing ethical attitudes towards the enemy, such as the immunity of women and children.
Even when such methods and precautions apply to war, can war ever be ethical? Even when going to war is appropriate according to the principles of just war theory, can war be ethical? In order to save another person’s life, can killing people be ethical? As long as military force is one of the effective tools of state policies, can war be ethical? In order to bring democracy to undemocratic states, can democratic states resort to war? This essay will seek answers to all these questions. In doing so, it will try to explain just war theory and humanitarian intervention and will try to give examples of just or unjust wars and interventions.
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