New England Journal of Public Policy

Article Title

From Just War to Just Intervention

Authors

Susan J. Atwood, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Abstract

What is Just War? What is Just Intervention? This paper examines the evolution of the criteria for Just War from its origins in the early Christian church to the twenty-first century. The end of the Cold War era has expanded the discussion to include grounds for intervention. Indeed, in the 1990s, a number of multilateral interventions took place on humanitarian grounds. But the debate is ongoing about whether the criteria applied in the Just War theory — proper authority, just cause, and right intent — remain valid in an era of Just Intervention. The author examines as case studies some multilateral interventions and the lessons learned from them as we seek to develop the framework of international law to address the evolving theory and current practice of Just Intervention. The philosophical background discusses the contributions of Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas, Grotius and Vitoria and Sanchez, and others more recent.

Recommended Citation

Atwood, Susan J. (2003) "From Just War to Just Intervention," New England Journal of Public Policy: Vol. 19: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarworks.umb.edu/nejpp/vol19/iss1/5