Rawls’s Succession and Development of Just War Theory (2021.10)

2021.10.12
  • Author : Lin Ji-Hoon
  • Publication : Peace Studies
  • Publisher : Peace & Democracy Institute
  • Volume : 29(2)
  • Date : October, 2021

Abstract:

Rawls inherits the basic structure of traditional just war theory – jus ad bellum, jus in bello, jus post bellum – without any hesitation in The Law of Peoples. However, he suggests a brand new methodology that makes foreign policies of each people be subject to moral judgment of citizens within a constitutional democracy. The well-known ‘original position’ methodologically interlink the conception of just war with his social justice theory. In practical terms, ‘the duty of civility’ shows how the discussion of war can be held in accordance with the principle of liberal legitimacy. As a result, the debate on the morality of war becomes political and moral acts required of free and equal citizens within a just democratic society.

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