This document provides an overview of the principles of a just war according to just war theory. It discusses the three components of just war theory: Jus ad Bellum (the just cause for war), Jus in Bello (just conduct during war), and Jus post Bellum (justice after war). For a war to be considered just, it must meet criteria like just cause, right intention, proportionality, and using military targets. It also discusses philosophers like Aristotle and Augustine who helped develop the theory of a just war.

1. Just War
Revision presentation
By Jade

2. What is Just War?
A war that is fought
for the right reasons,
in the right way.
Most religious
believers accept that
war is sometimes
‘necessary’.
Peace is the ‘ideal’.

4. It is considered wrong to start a war if
you do not stand a chance of
winning, because war involves the
destruction of life and property. Both
sides must have a reasonable chance
of success.
Likelihood of success:

5. Proportionality:
The force must be
proportional to the cause. This
was included in the factors to
ensure that one side does not
use war as a pretext for meting
out totally unreasonable force
on another country. This
clause is important in this time
period particularly because
now that weapons of mass On the other hand,
destruction like nuclear or technological advances
biological warfare exist in now make it possible to
some countries. The harm they target destruction very
are capable of causing is
massive and must be precisely – the ‘surgical
measured against the gain. strike’.

6. None of the Philosophers
involved in the Just War theory A just war must be fought
relished the idea of war – all with the intention of
believed peace was preferable. restoring peace.
This clause requires countries to
make every attempt to resolve a
dispute before considering a
armed response.
All other non-violent
methods must have been
tried first.
A last resort:

7. Controlled Violence: However, all
countries
participating in the
just war, must have
This factor was designed
the right to defend
to protect innocent themselves.
civilians. It requires the
war to be waged against
soldiers and military In addition to civilians,
targets. buildings also have to
be considered, it would
be wrong to bomb a
waterworks or a power
station for example.

8. Fought by the Authorities:
It is generally accepted that
only the United Nations or the
head/government of the
country is permitted to declare
war.

9. Origins of Just war:
Discussions on this theory go back
to philosophers such as Aristotle
and Cicero, who wrote that war in
self defence was ‘just’. First
significant development of its Both stipulated that war
principles came from Ambrose and must only be waged by a
his student Augustine of Hippo. legitimate governmental
authority, it must be
intended to restore peace
and justice; it should be a
last resort. There are
limits on the conduct of
war: reprisal killings and
massacres were
forbidden.

10. Just war theory can
be divided into 3
parts:
Jus in Bello
Jus ad Bellum
Jus post bellum

11. Jus ad Bellum
Jus ad Bellum is the just nature of the
reasoning and decision to take part in war.
These are the rules for the state leaders and
there are six requirements, which have been
already listed in this presentation:
- Just cause
- Right intention
- Proper authority
- Last resort
- Proportionality
- Probability of success

12. Jus in Bello
Jus in Bello is the just nature of conduct during the war once it begins.
It is the military that effectively bear the brunt of these
responsibilities.
- Obey all international laws on weapons prohibition(Chemical and
biological weapons must not be used).
- Discrimination and non-combatant immunity(the military must
distinguish between civilian life and legitimate military, political and
industrial targets).
- Proportionality(Once the end is achieved, no further force is needed)
- Benevolence to prisoners (All prisoners are to be given basic rights as
they are no longer ‘engaged in harm’).
- No means that are mala in se (No methods or weapons that are ‘evil
in themselves’ may be used, crimes such as rape, torture, ethnic
cleansing, genocide and poison fall into this category).
- No reprisals (this includes revenge and retribution).

13. Plato & Jus in Bello
Great philosopher Plato introduced the idea of
not touching those who were not to blame for
the conflict, i.e. non-combatants.
Today, responsibility for keeping the Jus in Bello
rules is mainly that of the military commanders,
officers and soldiers. They are accountable for
any breaches and may end up being put on trail
for war crimes.

14. Jus post Bello
Jus post Bello is the nature of how a war is ended. This is a relatively
new aspect to the just war tradition and is continually being debated.
The purpose is to restore peace and arrive at the most effective way of
doing this in a controlled manner. Debated principles are:
- Restoring human rights.
- Distinguishing between innocent civilians, who are to be free from
post-war punishment, and those who have incurred penalties.
- Public agreement and proclamation
- Giving war criminals fair trials: this applies both to leaders and any
ordinary soldiers
- Establishing financial compensation where necessary but so that
civilians are not taxed and that country can restore itself.
- Giving the country and its inhabitants the opportunity to reform.