The concept of morality often exists within a vacuum, subject to interpretation and relative between each individual. In spite of this, it is universally accepted that humanity should strive to adhere to a code of ethics regarding the decision to begin war. Governments across the world have set various criteria to help determine whether a war is just, necessary, and approved by their citizens’ moral compass. This article will outline various criteria commonly used worldwide to determine the morality of war.
Jus ad Bellum: The Criteria for War
Jus ad bellum is a Latin phrase meaning “the right to war”, which forms the fundamental criteria for determining the morality of any decision to start a war. According to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, this includes the obligation to:
- Seek peaceful solutions to conflicts before resorting to war;
- Have a just cause;
- Only use methods consistent with the United Nations Charter;
- Have a clear intention to restore peace; and
- Proportionality between the good of the cause and potential damage.
Just Cause
The concept of just cause outlines the reasons for which a war is deemed necessary and moral. Identifying just cause should then be used to determine whether the war is ultimately being fought for a righteous purpose. Governments must not declare war out of aggression, revenge, desire for land or resources, or economic gain. In most cases, a just cause must be declared when another state has violated internationally accepted rights, such as human rights, or when it is used as a response to threats against people or a nation itself.
Proportionality
The principle of proportionality states that any hostilities initiated by waging war should be limited to what is necessary to protect those in danger. Importantly, those individuals must have been innocent of wrongdoing and victims of an illegal attack. Moreover, the level of force used, both in scale and intensity, must be appropriate in relation to the severity of the original harm. Ultimately, the limit of force should be placed on what is necessary to remove the threat against which the war is fighting.
Unable or Unwilling State
The concept of unable or unwilling state means that war must not be declared unless the state from which the illegal act was conducted was either unable or unwilling to stop it. The United Nations must first attempt to use peaceful solutions to resolve the issue before the unable or unwilling state doctrine is put into play. Ultimately, this means that the responsibility of stopping a proposed attack must lie upon the aggressor, and peaceable options should be explored before going to war.
Last Resort
The last resort doctrine states that war can only be justified if it is the very last resort after all peaceful solution have been exhausted. This doctrine is intertwined with the unable or unwilling state and just cause principles, but it goes further in stipulating the assessment made by governments that the threat posed by the aggressor is significant enough to justify a war effort. As such, triggering this doctrine means that only situations deemed a severe threat to the affected nation or its citizens can justify war.
Right Intention
The right intention doctrine establishes that governments must come to the table with a clear goal for waging war. In other words, any just war must be fought for the purpose of restoring peace, not out of vengeance, or to gain territory or resources. The goal of the war effort must be to resolve the conflict, as opposed to any other hidden agenda pursued by a nation declaring a war.
Limitation of Method
The limitation of method principle states that any methods used in war fights must be limited to those allowed under international law. This means that all weapons must be used within the bounds of international law, with consideration for viable alternatives that may minimize civilian casualties. Furthermore, the Hague and Geneva conventions must be followed for the use of certain weapons, such as poison gas, chemical weapons, and nuclear weapons.
Public Declaration
Once a government has identified the moral grounds for declaring war, it is then obligated to publicly declare its intention to war. This is done to ensure that the public is aware of why the nation has chosen to engage in war. It also serves to explain how the nation plans to adhere to the established criteria for determining the morality of war. This public process is also important for ensuring that citizens have full knowledge of the decisions their government is making on their behalf.
The criteria for determining the morality of war is highly subjective, and can vary widely between nations. However, according to international law, governments must adhere to various principles when determining whether their decision to go to war is moral. For example, just cause, right intention, last resort, and limitation of method are all universally accepted standards for determining whether a war is necessary and ultimately just. Ultimately, the criteria set out to determine the morality of war provide a basis for which governments can make decisions.
