The causes and consequences of conflict
The causes of any war are complex. Wars are rarely about just one thing. They can be declared when a state or states act to:
The consequences of war
•Soldiers and civilians die
•Injuries
•Cost
•Contamination of land and water
•Refugees
•Famine and disease
•Destruction of buildings and land (infrastructure)
•Victory/Defeat
•Roles of women changed following the World Wars
•Get rid of a dictator like Saddam Hussain
•Free people (like the Jews from the Ghettos)
- attack or invade another state, to gain territory or resources
- resist such an attack or invasion by an aggressor
- protect another state from attack by an aggressor
- impose domination or political change on another state, or to resist such domination
- challenge a threat to 'essential national interests' by another state
- counter perceived threats from a different ideology, religion or ethnic group
- defend the national honour when under threat
The consequences of war
•Soldiers and civilians die
•Injuries
•Cost
•Contamination of land and water
•Refugees
•Famine and disease
•Destruction of buildings and land (infrastructure)
•Victory/Defeat
•Roles of women changed following the World Wars
•Get rid of a dictator like Saddam Hussain
•Free people (like the Jews from the Ghettos)
Weapons of Mass Destruction
They do not fit with any just war theory.
CHRISTIANITY – Not just means/appropriate force.
Sanctity of Life. All human life is sacred. WMD civilians die and leave people permanently disfigured. Chemicals infected landscape leading to birth defeats, cancers etc for years after
The Catholic Church does not accept the use of WMDs but thinks they are acceptable as a deterrent
ISLAM - “Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man.”. It is impossible to use such weapons solely to target combatants.
“Fight in the cause of Allah … but do not overstep the limits” WMD are capable of killing and maiming large numbers of people. They cause massive destruction to landscapes and man-made structures.
Arguments for nuclear weapons
CHRISTIANITY – Not just means/appropriate force.
Sanctity of Life. All human life is sacred. WMD civilians die and leave people permanently disfigured. Chemicals infected landscape leading to birth defeats, cancers etc for years after
The Catholic Church does not accept the use of WMDs but thinks they are acceptable as a deterrent
ISLAM - “Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man.”. It is impossible to use such weapons solely to target combatants.
“Fight in the cause of Allah … but do not overstep the limits” WMD are capable of killing and maiming large numbers of people. They cause massive destruction to landscapes and man-made structures.
Arguments for nuclear weapons
- The possession of nuclear weapons has kept the major world powers from coming to war since 1955, out of fear of what might happen (mutually assured destruction).
- The knowledge of nuclear weapons cannot be removed. It is preferable for the major powers to have these bombs for deterrence than for an unstable dictator to use them in war.
- Their destructive power is immense and long lasting. Even countries that have nothing to do with the war will be badly affected. Some people estimate that a small nuclear war could wipe out human life on Earth.
- They are very costly to develop and maintain. The money could be spent on raising everybody's quality of life.
- There is no effective protection against them, nor can people control who has access to them.
Pacifism
Quakers. Object to the use of violence. Follow example of Jesus. “Those who live by the sword die by the sword” and ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’. They would not join the armed force and would protest against war.
Hinduism. Gandhi’s example. Non-violence. Based on ahimsa. To do no harm to any living thing.
Islam. Not a pacifist religion. War acceptable. The Prophet went to war. There are rules to ensure a war is ‘just’ e.g. “Do not overstep the limits”, do target civilians and aim to bring about peace. “if they incline towards peace, you must also incline towards it”
Hinduism. Gandhi’s example. Non-violence. Based on ahimsa. To do no harm to any living thing.
Islam. Not a pacifist religion. War acceptable. The Prophet went to war. There are rules to ensure a war is ‘just’ e.g. “Do not overstep the limits”, do target civilians and aim to bring about peace. “if they incline towards peace, you must also incline towards it”
Just War
A just war is a war which is declared for right and noble reasons and fought in a certain way. A just war is not a war that is ‘good’ as such – it is a war that Christians feel to be necessary or 'just' in the circumstances, when all other solutions have been tried and have failed. It is a necessary evil and a last resort.
A Just War is one which has to be fought but is conducted according to certain conditions. These were developed by Thomas Aquinas (c1225-74) and Francisco de Vitoria (c1483-1546) and are still referred to by Christians today.
The theory is not intended to justify all wars but to prevent them by showing that going to war - except in certain limited circumstances - is wrong. The intention was to motivate states to find other ways of resolving conflicts, prevent war and to limit its effects.
The conditions of a Just War are:
- it must be fought by a legal recognised authority, eg, a government
- the cause of the war must be just
- the war must be fought with the intention to establish good or correct evil
- there must be a reasonable chance of success
- the war must be the last resort (after all diplomatic negotiations have been tried and failed)
- only sufficient force must be used and civilians must not be involved
A Holy War and a Just War are different.
The aim of a Holy War is to protect the religion of the people concerned. A famous Holy War fought by Christians was the Crusades of a thousand years ago when Christian Europe claimed the Holy Land from the Muslims who governed it.
A Just War is just if it is fought for a reason that is justifiable, and that carries sufficient moral weight. The country that wishes to use military force must demonstrate that there is a ‘just’ cause to do so.
Islam and war
“Fight in the cause of Allah … but do not overstep the limits” - Limit and control violence, weapons of mass destruction are forbidden
“If two groups of the believers fight, you should try to reconcile them; if one of them is oppressing the other, fight the oppressors until they submit to God’s command” - Focus is on peacemaking and peacekeeping efforts, peaceful ways of solving conflict must be a last resort
“Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged – God has the power to help them” - act only in defence. Muslims not being able to practise their religion freely would be an acceptable cause of war
“But if they incline towards peace, you must also incline towards it, and put your trust in God:” - Once hostility ceases you must stop fighting
“It would be as if he killed the whole of mankind” - The taking of any life should be taken as seriously as if you were to wipe out the whole of humanity. Even in war.
“Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man.” Abu Bakr - All effort must be made to protect civilians (non-combatants) as well as infrastructure.
“Hate you enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day” (Hadith) - Do not focus of revenge or hatred but peace making. Enemies should be fought without hatred and vengeance. Once the battle is over, peace must restored and differences reconciled.
“If two groups of the believers fight, you should try to reconcile them; if one of them is oppressing the other, fight the oppressors until they submit to God’s command” - Focus is on peacemaking and peacekeeping efforts, peaceful ways of solving conflict must be a last resort
“Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged – God has the power to help them” - act only in defence. Muslims not being able to practise their religion freely would be an acceptable cause of war
“But if they incline towards peace, you must also incline towards it, and put your trust in God:” - Once hostility ceases you must stop fighting
“It would be as if he killed the whole of mankind” - The taking of any life should be taken as seriously as if you were to wipe out the whole of humanity. Even in war.
“Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man.” Abu Bakr - All effort must be made to protect civilians (non-combatants) as well as infrastructure.
“Hate you enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day” (Hadith) - Do not focus of revenge or hatred but peace making. Enemies should be fought without hatred and vengeance. Once the battle is over, peace must restored and differences reconciled.