Is the War on Terrorism Justified and Effective?: Focusing on Augustine’s Just War Theory and Critique of its Application

Kim Hakbong (김학봉)

doi:10.21050/CSE.2021.50.05

Is the War on Terrorism Justified and Effective?: Focusing on Augustine’s Just War Theory and Critique of its Application

The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
Abbr : 기사윤
2021, (50), pp.135-166
DOI : 10.21050/CSE.2021.50.05
Publisher : The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
Received : June 30, 2021
Accepted : August 4, 2021
Published : August 31, 2021

Kim Hakbong ¹

¹아신대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Augustine is considered the first theologian to conceive and develop a distinctly Christian ‘just war’ theory that legitimizes war. In his theory, Augustine ad- dresses the cause, intention, and specific conditions that make war justifiable. The problem, however, is that Augustine’s theory of just war has been employed to justify wars such as the medieval crusades, and it is now used to legitimize modern warfare such as the ‘war on terrorism.’ In this context, this paper explores whether the war on terrorism can actually be justified based on Augustine’s theory and whether it is effective as a response to terrorism. To this end, the study first deals with Augustine’s concept of ‘just war,’ then examining its historical interpretations and applications, and finally discussing the justifications for and effectiveness of the war on terrorism. Through this process, the paper argues that since jus in bello (justice in war), Augustine’s prerequisite for just war, is not carefully actualized in counterterrorism warfare and the continuous use of military force cannot resolve the root causes of terrorism, the war on terrorism cannot be claimed to be justified and nor is it effective. Therefore, it is suggested that non-violent actions such as international cooperation and humanitarian efforts that can mitigate or eliminate the causes of terrorism and thus have a more positive effect on the situation of terrorism should be reflected as key principles in counterterrorism policy.

KEYWORDS

Augustine, Just War, Terrorism, War on Terrorism, Non-violence, Pacifism

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

[book] Augustine. Letters / 1887 / Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 1 / Christian Literature Publishing Co.

[book] Augustine / 1888 / Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 6 / Christian Literature Publishing Co

[book] Augustine / 1887 / Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 2 / Christian Literature Publishing Co.

[web] BBC / 2015 / David Cameron: World uniting to fight ‘evil threat’ of IS / http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34897288

[web] BBC / 2015 / Japan outraged at IS ‘beheading’ of hostage Kenji Goto / http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31075769

[book] Biggar, Nigel / 2014 / In Defence of War / Oxford University Press

[book] Cahill, Lisa Sowle / 2019 / Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Pacifism, Just War, and Peace building / Fortress Press

[book] Chadwick, Henry / 1986 / Augustine / Oxford University Press

[book] Christopher, Paul / 1994 / The Ethics of War and Peace : An Introduction to Legal and Moral Issues / Prentice-Hall

[book] Corey, David D. / 2012 / The Just War Tradition: An Introduction / ISI Books

[journal] Crawford, Neta C. / 2003 / Just War Theory and the U.S. Counterterror War / Perspectives on Politics 1 : 5~25

[book] Elu, Juliet U / 2015 / The Oxford Handbook of Africa and Economics: Volume 1:Context and Concepts / Oxford University Press

[web] Fackler, Martin / 2015 / Hostage’s Apparent Beheading by ISIS Stirs Outrage in Japan / New York Times / http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/02/world/asia/japanese-hostage-beheading.html

[journal] Farneubun Petrus / 2014 / Intentions and Motive in Augustine’s Just War Teaching / Jurnal Ilmiah Hubungan Internasional 10 : 63~79

[journal] Feldman, Robert L. / 2009 / The Root Causes of Terrorism: Why Parts of Africa Might Never be at Peace / Defense & Security Analysis 25 : 355~372

[book] Fisher, David / 2011 / Morality and War: Can War be Just in the Twenty-First Century? / Oxford University Press

[book] Fitzgerald, Allan / 1999 / Augustine through the Ages: An Encyclopedia / Eerdmans

[journal] Hauerwas, Stanley / 2005 / The Case for Abolition of War in the Twenty-First Century / Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 25 : 17~35

[book] Holmes, Arthur / 2005 / War and Christian Ethics : Classic and Contemporary Readings on the Morality of War / Baker Academic

[journal] Irshad, Muhammad / 2011 / Terrorism in Pakistan: Causes & Remedies / The Dialogue 6 : 224~241

[book] John Calvin / 1948 / Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans / Eerdmans : 2015~

[journal] Langan, John / 1984 / The Elements of St. Augustine’s Just War Theory / Journal of Religious Ethics 12 : 19~38

[book] Long, Edward LeRoy / 2004 / Facing Terrorism : Responding as Christians / Westminster John Knox Press

[book] Mattow, John M / 2006 / Saint Augustine and The Theory of Just War / Continuum Publishers

[book] O’Donovan, Oliver / 2003 / The Just War Revisited / Cambridge University Press

[book] O’Meara, John / 1984 / Concerning the City of God, Against The Pagans / Penguin Group

[book] Pearse, Meic / 2007 / The Gods of War: Is Religion the Primary Cause of Violent Conflict? / InterVarsity Press

[book] Rodin, David / 2003 / War and Self-Defense / Oxford University Press

[web] Schmitt, Eric / 2005 / U.S. Officials Retool Slogan for Terror War / New York Times / http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/26/politics/us-officials-retool-slogan-for-terror-war.html

[web] The Bureau of Investigative Journalism / 2017 / Drone Wars: The Full Date / http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2017-01-01/drone-wars-the-full-data/

[book] Trosky, Abram / 2013 / International Handbook of War, Torture, and Terrorism / Springer

[journal] Walzer, Michael / 2006 / Terrorism and Just War / Philosophia 34 : 3~12

[book] Weller, Marc / 2015 / Oxford Handbooks of the Use of Force in International Law / Oxford University Press

KJCKorea
Journal Central

The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.58

Is the War on Terrorism Justified and Effective?: Focusing on Augustine’s Just War Theory and Critique of its Application

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.58

Is the War on Terrorism Justified and Effective?: Focusing on Augustine’s Just War Theory and Critique of its Application

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

Statistics

Tools

Issue List

Citation status

KCI Citation Counts (0)

REFERENCES (33) * References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

Search PDF

Citation

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.