This volume offers a set of concise and accessible introductions to the seminal figures in the historical development of the just war tradition.

In what, if any, circumstances are political communities justified in going to war? And what limits should apply to the conduct of any such war? The just war tradition is a body of thought that helps us think through these very questions. Its core ideas have been subject to fierce debate for over 2,000 years. Yet they continue to play a prominent role in how political and military leaders address the challenges posed by the use of force in international society. Until now there has been no text that offers concise and accessible introductions to the key figures associated with the tradition. Stepping into this breach, Just War Thinkers provides a set of clear but detailed essays by leading experts on nineteen seminal thinkers, from Cicero to Jeff McMahan. This volume challenges the reader to think about how traditions are constituted-who is included and excluded, and how that is determined-and how they serve to enable, constrain, and indeed channel subsequent thought, debate, and exchange.

This book will be of much interest to students of just war tradition and theory, ethics and war, philosophy, security studies and IR.

About the Author

Daniel R. Brunstetter is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Irvine, USA.

Cian O'Driscoll is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Glasgow, UK.

Reviews

'This book is an excellent introduction to the debates currently going on about just war theory and about actual just and unjust wars. Readers will find the centuries-long arguments about when to fight and how to fight carefully analyzed and evaluated in a series of highly intelligent and inter-connected essays.' -- Michael Walzer, Institute for Advanced Study, USA

'Just War Thinkers is an excellent book. Each of its chapters is devoted to a major just war theorist, starting with Cicero and ending with Jeff McMahan. It does scholars the huge service of reviewing both familiar figures (Augustine, Vitoria, Pufendorf, and Kant - to name but a few), and drawing attention to comparatively and unfairly neglected one (for example, Gratian and Las Casas). The chapters on 20th and 21st century thinkers round off a clearly written, accessible, and engaging tour d'horizon.' -- Cecile Fabre, University of Oxford, UK

'Drawing on expert analysis of key just war theorists, Brunstetter and O'Driscoll have produced an excellent primer on this key tradition in international thought. The editors call it an introduction, but there is much here that will delight and inform researchers at all stages of their careers.' -- Lucian Ashworth, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

'This is an important book, just right for our times. By engaging with some of the greatest thinkers within the just war tradition, the eminent authors and editors of this book help us understand both the structure and context of just war discourse. This volume will be of use to students and scholars within philosophy, politics, history, religion, and law - and to anyone who is interested in understanding the rights and wrongs of warfare.' -- Henrik Syse, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Norway

Book Information
ISBN 9781138122482
Author Daniel R. Brunstetter
Format Paperback
Page Count 282
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 402g