Ending Wars Justly: Theory and Applications

by David K. Chan (Editor)

Overview

This volume features original essays on the ethics of ending wars (jus ex bello). It fills a significant gap in just war theory and sets the stage for other thinkers to engage with the topic.

What makes questions about jus ex bello especially difficult for ethicists to answer is that the just war tradition has neglected to develop principles for ending wars justly. Until recently, debates have primarily focused on justice in going to war (jus ad bellum), justice in fighting a war (jus in bello), and justice after war (jus post bellum). Additionally, many contemporary conflicts are unconventional and not the kind that the traditional principles of just war theory are designed to address. The chapters in this volume address the question of how and when wars can end justly. Part 1 approaches jus ex bello from different theoretical angles, including just war theory, virtue ethics, pacifism, and feminism. Part 2 discusses specific aspects of recent wars: the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of military involvement in the country, and the war that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, that is so difficult to end despite the escalating human cost.

Ending Wars Justly is an essential resource for scholars and advanced students working in just war theory, the ethics of war and peace, international relations, and military and strategic studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040344569
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/15/2025
Series:	Routledge Research in Applied Ethics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	210
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

David K. Chan is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is the author of Beyond Just War: A Virtue Ethics Approach (2012), and Action Reconceptualized: Human Agency and Its Sources (2016), and the editor of Moral Psychology Today: Essays on Values, Rational Choice, and the Will (2008).

Table of Contents

Introduction David K. Chan Part 1: Theories of War Endings 1. Beginning the End: Unilateral vs. Collaborative Conceptions of War Termination Ethics Yvonne Chiu 2. Wars to Stop Aggression and to End Genocide: Beyond Just Endings David K. Chan 3. Victor’s Justice and the Myth of Ending Wars Justly Andrew Fiala 4. Bodies that are “Ready-to-Politics”: A Feminist Approach to Jus Ex Bello Jennifer Kling 5. Endless War and the Ideologies of War Cheyney Ryan Part 2: Reflections on Ukraine and Afghanistan 6. Ending Wars and the Problem of Moral Hazard Elad Uzan 7. Just War Continuation and Just War Exit in Afghanistan Jordy Rocheleau 8. The Afghanistan War and Jus Post Bellum: A Look at Three Milestones for Peace and Security Eric Patterson 9. Meaningful Lives and Meaningful Deaths: Narrative Values and the Retreat from Afghanistan Michael Blake

Editorial Reviews

"Morality sometimes requires that a just war be ended before it has achieved its aims – and, occasionally, that an unjust war be prolonged. The essays in this urgently needed book greatly advance our understanding of the moral principles that determine when a belligerent must stop fighting."

Jeff McMahan, Oxford University, UK

"David Chan skilfully edits this outstanding collection of essays on a vital, yet under-appreciated, aspect of wartime justice. Penned by top experts, this thought-provoking volume combines searching theoretical reflections with detailed practical pieces, focusing on recent cases like Ukraine, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Highly recommended!"

Brian Orend, University of Waterloo, Canada

"The recognition of when and how to end wars justly (jus ex bello) has heretofore been neglected even in the midst of widespread discussion of other “juses” in contemporary moral and political discourse about war. The editor and several eminent scholars thoughtfully engage and rectify that glaring omission in this much-needed work."

George Lucas, Professor emeritus, US Naval Academy

From the Publisher