Knowra Just war theory Just war theory Just war theory is a tradition of ethical thought that sets criteria for resorting to war and for conduct during war. It distinguishes the justice of entering a war from the justice of fighting it.
Jus ad bellum : The principles governing whether resorting to war is morally justified. This branch evaluates the decision to begin a war.
Just cause : A morally sufficient reason for using armed force, such as defense against aggression. It asks whether the reason for war meets the tradition's threshold.
Augustine of Hippo : A late antique Christian theologian whose writings addressed the morality of war and political authority. His account helped establish Christian arguments about when war could be permissible.
Pacifism : The view that war and violence are morally impermissible, or permissible only under exceptionally narrow conditions. Unlike just-war theory, pacifism rejects or sharply limits recourse to war itself.
International humanitarian law : The body of international law that limits the effects of armed conflict and protects people not fighting. Its legal rules overlap with, but are distinct from, just-war principles about conduct.
Jus in bello : The principles governing morally permissible conduct during war. This branch judges how wars are fought, independently of their cause.
Last resort : The requirement to attempt reasonable peaceful alternatives before using force. It tests whether war was chosen only after other options were exhausted.
Thomas Aquinas : A medieval theologian and philosopher who formulated three conditions for a just war. His conditions—authority, just cause, and right intention—became a durable framework.
Realism (international relations) : An approach to international politics that emphasizes power, security, and state interests. Political realism often questions whether moral rules meaningfully constrain states at war.
Humanitarian intervention : The use of force across borders claimed to stop or prevent severe human suffering. It tests whether protecting people can constitute a just cause for war.
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