War And Conflict Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is a belligerent party?
Warring parties
What is war?
A violent, armed conflict between two or more belligerent parties
2 decisions that have been made when a country declares war
- it is acceptable to risk well being of your soldiers and perhaps civilians
- it is acceptable to use violence against the enemy
When a soldier is deployed
- acceptable that the soldier’s life and well being are put at risk
- acceptable for soldier to use violence
During peacetime
Putting others at risk and killing is wrong
What causes war?
- Extending power to grab resources (wars of offence)
- defending yourself from aggression (defensive wars)
- to secure/restore freedom (wars of independence)
- to do the same for your allies
- politics: when diplomacy doesn’t work a government uses force to achieve objectives
- it’s human nature (Thucydides)
Why is war a moral issue?
Because it causes moral controversy.
What type of ethics is war am example of?
Applied ethics.
Is it ever right to wage war? “Yes, always”
Militarists: believe that war is always/usually the best option, believe that there’s nothing morally wrong with war
Is it ever right to wage war? “No”
Pacifists: believe that all violence is morally unacceptable
What does a contentious objector do?
Object on principle of conscious
Is it ever right to wage war? “Yes, sometimes”
Just War Theorists: believe that some wars are acceptable under certain circumstances
Pacifists, Militarists and Just War Theorists are…?
Responses to war
What does jus ad bellum mean?
When is it acceptable to go to war
What does jus in bello mean?
What is acceptable to do in war?
Name the 4 jus as bellum conditions
- 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
- War must be the last resort
Name the 2 jus in bello conditions
- Principle of discrimination: innocent people and non-combatants should not be harmed.
- Principle of proportionality: the means used must be in proportion to the end that the war seeks to achieve.
Name just causes for war
Defensive wars
Pre-emotive strikes
Assisting an invaded friendly nation
Human rights violation
Name non-violent alternatives to war
Direct diplomatic negotiations Independent mediators Appeasement Political pressure from other nations Involvement from UN International sanctions -diplomatic sanctions -economic sanctions UN approaches
What is a diplomatic sanction?
Cutting off diplomatic relations with aggressive countries through the removal of diplomatic ties (eg shutting down embassies)
What is an economic sanction?
Typically trade embargo, possibly limited to certain sectors such as armaments or with certain exceptions such as food and medicine
Name some war crimes
Murder or ill-treatment of non-combatants/prisoners of war
Killing of hostages
Torture/inhuman treatment
Plunder of public or private property
Devastation not justified by military necessity
UN approaches to preventing war
Preventive diplomacy Sanctions Arms control and disarmament Ceasefires Peacemaking Peace plans Military interventions Peacekeeping Peace enforcement Peace building
Define preventive diplomacy
UN engages in diplomatic interventions before the outbreak of conflict.
