The Legitimate Use of Military Force: The Just War Tradition and the Customary Law of Armed Conflict

Throughout human history, scholars, statesmen and military leaders have attempted to define what constitutes the legitimate use of armed force by one community against another. Moreover, indeed if force is to be used, what normative guidelines should govern the conduct of warfare. Based upon the assumption that armed conflict is a human enterprise and therefore subject to human limitations, the Western 'just war tradition' represents an attempt to provide these guidelines. This volume:" follows on from the earlier publication, The Law of Armed Conflict" brings together an international recognized team of scholars" seeks to apply an interdisciplinary approach to analyze and assess the linkage between just war and the norms of behavior" provides a valuable contribution to international law, international relations and national security studiesThis volume explores the philosophic and societal foundations of the just war tradition, relates the principles of jus ad bellum to contemporary issues confronting the global community and explores the relationship between the principles of jus in bello and the various principles embodied in the customary law of armed conflict. Ideal as a course reader for law and international relations courses.