Arguments Against Just War

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War and conflict have been a part of the human experience for most of recorded history, and many scholars use the concept of just war to analyse wars in their own time and in the past, and to consider how to create long lasting peace. Just war theory forms the basis of much of international law today, and still can be used to analyse modern day conflict, such as the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Just war theory in its most coherent form was first discussed by Saint Thomas Aquinas in the 14th Century, and has gone on to be analysed and debated by many scholars since. A more contemporary analyst of just war theory, Michael Walzer, wrote “War is always judged twice, first with reference to the reasons states have for fighting,
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One aspect of this in the principle of distinction, in which acts of war should be directed at enemy combatants, and not towards civilians who are caught in situations due to no fault of their own, nor is it just to attack combatants who have surrendered. Proportionality is another aspect of justice in war, which means that risk towards civilians should not be disproportionate to potential military advantage. Justice in war also governs the methods that one may use during war, by which one cannot use a method considered evil, or inhumane, such as rape, nor can one mistreat prisoners of …show more content…
Putin claimed that Russia needed to intervene in order to "to ensure proper conditions for the people of Crimea to be able to freely express their will" (Putin, 2014). However Thomas Grant argues that “No credible evidence existed to suggest that the inhabitants of Crimea, or any group of inhabitants of Crimea, had grievances which even the most speculative theories of self-determination would justify secession” (Grant, 2015). The Budapest Memorandum of Security Assurances, which Russia was a part of, affirmed the members obligation to not infringe on Ukraine’s territory or political freedom. Russia could not reasonably claim to have a right to Crimea, as it has been a part of Ukraine since 1954, and Russia has been a part of many treaties which confirmed Ukraine’s territorial rights. Therefore as Russia had no territorial claims, and was not acting in defence, there in not just cause for war.
Right intention is another requirement for a just war. Many have argued that Russia did not have right intention, even if they were trying to protect the ethnic Russians within Crimea, it appears their motives were to gain territory, and to control energy and military resources within the region (Biersack & O 'Lear, 2014). The concept of last resort also appears to have been ignored by Russia. Although Russia claimed it was acting in order to protect human rights, they made no efforts for treaty or discussion with

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