Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations 5th edition

This book considers moral arguments about war from the perspective of human rights, using historical cases for illustration. It addresses the realist argument, the idea that it is a crime to begin a war, the rules of engagement that even apply to soldiers whose wars are criminal, and the nature of the crime; forms of resistance, the ends that soldiers and politicians seek in fighting just wars, the legitimate means of warfare, the substantive rules, and how they apply in combat conditions and are modified by military necessity, with discussion of guerrilla war, terrorism, and reprisals; dilemmas of war, including the concepts of winning and fighting well, aggression and neutrality, and nuclear deterrence; and the assignment of responsibility, including war crimes. This edition has a new preface and postscript that take into account recent wars. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
From the Athenian attack on Melos to the My Lai Massacre, from the wars in the Balkans through the first war in Iraq, Michael Walzer examines the moral issues surrounding military theory, war crimes, and the spoils of war. He studies a variety of conflicts over the course of history, as well as the testimony of those who have been most directly involved--participants, decision makers, and victims. In his introduction to this new edition, Walzer specifically addresses the moral issues surrounding the war in and occupation of Iraq, reminding us once again that "the argument about war and justice is still a political and moral necessity."
This classic work of political ethics has radically reconfigured the way that we think about war