The Just War Myth: The Moral Illusions of WarRowman & Littlefield, 2008 - 213 pages As the war in Iraq continues and Americans debate the consequences of the war in Afghanistan, the war on terror, and the possibility of war with North Korea and Iran, war is one of the biggest issues in public debate. Andrew Fiala in The Just War Myth challenges the apparently predominant American sentiment that war can be easily justified. Even most Democrats seem to hold that opinion, despite the horrific costs of war both on the people being attacked or caught up in the chaos and on the Americans involved in carrying out the war. The Just War Myth argues that while the just war theory is a good theory, actual wars do not live up to its standards. The book provides a genealogy of the just war idea and also turns a critical eye on current events, including the idea of preemptive war, the use of torture, and the unreality of the Bush Doctrine. Fiala warns that pacifism, too, can become mythological, advocating skepticism about attempts to justify war. |
Contents
Introduction The Just War Myth and the Politics of War | 3 |
The Myths and Memes of Political Life | 15 |
Genealogy of the Just War Tradition | 29 |
Duels and Modern Wars | 45 |
The Myth of American Exceptionalism | 59 |
THE MYTHS OF THE WAR ON TERRORISM | 77 |
The Preemptive War Doctrine | 79 |
Torture and Terrorism | 99 |
Jus in Bello and the War in Iraq | 141 |
SKEPTICAL DEMOCRATIC PACIFISM | 159 |
The Myth of Pacifism | 161 |
Citizenship Responsibility and Peace | 177 |
| 195 | |
| 205 | |
About the Author | |
Humanitarian Intervention and the Crusade for Democracy | 121 |
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