From the Athenian attack on Melos to the My Lai Massacre, from the wars in the Balkans through the first war in Iraq, Michael Walzer examines the moral issues surrounding military theory, war crimes, and the spoils of war. He studies a variety of conflicts over the course of history, as well as the testimony of those who have been most directly involved--participants, decision makers, and victims. In his introduction to this new edition, Walzer specifically addresses the moral issues surrounding the war in and occupation of Iraq, reminding us once again that "the argument about war and justice is still a political and moral necessity."
Author(s): Michael Walzer
Edition: 4
Publisher: Basic Books
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: xxviii, 361 p
City: New York
Copyright
CONTENTS
Preface to the 4th Edition
Preface (1977)
Acknowledgments
Part 1 The Moral Reality of War
1 Against "Realism"
The Realist Argument
The Melian Dialogue
Strategy and Morality
Historical Relativism
Three Accounts of Agincourt
2 The Crime of War
The Logic of War
The Argument of Karl von Clausewitz
The Limit of Consent
The Tyranny of War
General Shennan and the Burning of Atlanta
3 The Rules of War
The Moral Equality of Soldiers
The Case of Hitler's Genercds
Two Sorts of Rules
The War Convention
The Example of Surrender
Part 2 The Theory of Aggression
4 Law and Order in International Society
Aggression
The Rights of Political Communities
The Case of Alsace-Lorraine
The Legalist Paradigm
Unavoidable Categories
Karl Marx and the Franco-Prussian War
The Argument for Appeasement
Czechoslovakia and the Munich Principle
Finland
5 Anticipations
Preventive War and the Balance of Power
The War of the Spanish Succession
Pre-emptive Strikes
The Six Day War
6 Interventions
Self-Detennination and Self-Help: The Argument of John Stuart Mill
Secession: The Hungarian Revolution
Civil War
The American WaT in Vietnam
Humanitarian Intervention
Cuba, 1898, and Bangladesh, 1971
7 War's Ends, and the Importance of Winning
Unconditional Surrender: Allied Policy in World Wdr II
Justice in Settlements
The Korean War
Part 3 The War Convention
8 War's Means, and the Importance of Fighting Well
Utility and Proportionality: The Argument of Henry Sidgwick
Human Rights: The Rape of the Italian Women
9 Noncombatant Immunity and Military Necessity
The Status of Individuals
Naked Soldiers
The Nature of Necessity (1)
Submarine Warfare: The Laconia Affair
Double Effect
Bombardment in Korea
The Bombing of Occupied France and the Vemork Raid
10 War Against Civilians: Sieges and Blockades
Coercion and Responsibility: The Siege of Jerusalem 72 A.D.
The Right to Leave: The Siege of Leningrad
Taking Aim and the Doctrine of Double Effect
The British Blockade of Germany
11 Guerrilla War
Resistance to Military Occupation: A Partisan Attack
The Rights of Guerrilla Fighters
The Rights of Civilian Supporters
The American "Rules of Engagement" in Vietnam
12 Terrorism
The Political Code
The Russian Populists, the IRA, and the Stern Gang
The Vietcong Assassination Campaign
Violence and Liberation: Jean-Paul Sarire and the Battle of Algiers
13 Reprisals
Deterrence Without Rebibution
The FFI Prisoners at Annecy
The Problem of Peacetime Reprisals
The Attack on Khibye and the Beirut Raid
Part 4 Dilemmas of War
14 Winning and Fighting Well
"Asinine Ethics": Chairman Mao and the Battle of the River Hung
The Sliding Scale and the Argument from Extremity
15 Aggression and Neutrality
The Right to Be Neutral
The Nature of Necessity (2)
The Rape of Belgium
The Sliding Scale: Winston Churchill and Norwegian Neutrality
16 Supreme Emergency
The Nature of Necessity (3)
Overriding the Rules of War: The Decision to Bomb German Cities
The Limits of Calculation: Hiroshima
17 Nuclear Deterrence
The Problem of Immoral Threats
Limited Nuclear War
The Argument of Paul Ramsey
Part 5 The Question of Responsibility
18 The Crime of Aggression: Political Leaders and Citizens
The World of Officials
Nuremberg: "The Ministries Case"
Democratic Responsibilities
The American People and the War in Vietnam
19 War Crimes: Soldiers and Their Officers
In the Heat of Battle: Two Accounts of Killing Prisoners
Superior Orders: The My Lai Massacre
Command Responsibility
General Bradley and the Bombing of St. Lô
The Case of General Yamashita
The Nature of Necessity (4)
The Dishonoring of Arthur Harris
Conclusion
Afterword: Nonviolence and the Theory of War
NOTES
Preface
1 Against "Realism"
2 The Crime of War
3 The Rules of War
4 Law and Order in International Society
5 Anticipations
6 Interventions
7 War's Ends, and the Importance of Winning
8 War's Means, and the Importance of Fighting Well
9 Noncombatant Immunity and Military Necessity
10 War Against Civilians : Sieges and Blockades
11 Guerrilla War
12 Terrorism
13 Reprisals
14 Winning and Fighting Well
15 Aggression and Neutrality
16 Supreme Emergency
17 Nuclear Deterrence
18 The Crime of Aggression: Political Leaders and Citizens
19 War Crimes: Soldiers and Their Officers
Afterword: Nonviolence and the Theory of War
INDEX
