Six conditions must be satisfied for a war to be considered just. A war that starts as a Just War may stop being a Just War if the means used to wage it are inappropriate.
What is a Just War?
What is a Just War?
What is a Just War?
Six conditions must be satisfied for a war to be considered just:
- The war must be for a just cause.
- The war must be lawfully declared by a lawful authority.
- The intention behind the war must be good.
- All other ways of resolving the problem should have been tried first.
- There must be a reasonable chance of success.
- The means used must be in proportion to the end that the war seeks to achieve.
How should a Just War be fought?
A war that starts as a Just War may stop being a Just War if the means used to wage it are inappropriate.
- Innocent people and non-combatants should not be harmed.
- Only appropriate force should be used.
- This applies to both the sort of force, and how much force is used.
- Internationally agreed conventions regulating war must be obeyed.
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