The "Just War" tradition

 

 

Discussions of the ethics of states using violence to gain their ends go back to Ancient Egypt.  There are contributions from the “Eastern” religions” but  Western  conclusions are largely based on the works of St Ambrose (339 – 397) and St Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430)  (ie not the  Archbishop of Canterbury Augustine).

 In summary, their conclusions are that for a state to go to war (and to limit the violence in conducting the war)

1.    1. The war should be undertaken by a lawful authority  . . .

2.    2. . . .in vindication of an undoubted right that has been infringed.

3.    3. Be a last resort.

4.    4. The good to be achieved should outweigh the evil the war wold involve. .

5.    5. . . . with a reasonable hope of a victory for justice.

6.    6. Be waged with a right intention (this one from Thomas Aquinas, d1274)

7.    7. . . .using methods that are legitimate (de Vitoria, 1483 – 1546)

8.    8. Retaliation should be proportionate to the offence.

In considering the present war in the Middle East there is plenty of scope for argument in several of the above.  (Are Hamas  and Hezbollah ”lawful authorities?  Is the prolongation of the war really for Netanyahu to remain in power and avoid criminal prosecution?   -  to name but some.)

The outstanding “non-compliance” with Just War theory is to me the lack of proportionality.  It is unconscionable that 42 000 people in Gaza, plus 2 000 and rising in Lebanon should be slaughtered as a response to  the killing of just over 1 000 on October 7^th last year.

Similarly, in the coverage of the anniversary in the last few days such media as have tried to be even handed (eg the BBC) have tended to give equal time to each side: two Israeli families and two Palestinian families.  To be proportionate, for every Israeli family’s tragedy we need to hear about the tragedies of 40+  Palestinian families.

 As Ian Dunt points out in his newsletter,  (Striking 13) we are told the stories of Israeli families  because we know their names, have the family photographs and videos, and can hear of their thwarted ambitions.  We don’t have the same access to Palestinian stories, not least because the Israeli government does not allow access to Gaza for reporters.  But also because there are two many of them.

 Post script.  

 Today's Guardian devotes the front- page headline and then four more complete pages to the agonies of the Israelis, and we wait until until page nine for just one to the agonies of Gaza.  No wonder we are now hearing the phrase: "Brown lives don't matter."

  

themthem: they have become just a number.