The History and Application of Christian Just War Theory as Related to Preemptive Attack

Abstract

Abstract Galen Michener Turner, B.A. Department of Religious Studies, April 2010 University of Kansas The Christian Just War tradition was created around the central principle that war was part of human existence, but that it needed limitation. It evolved under the influence of historical pressures and through intellects that synthesized the nonviolent teachings of Jesus with governmental concerns. The Christian Just War tradition has always sought to define what would allow a war to be considered just. It has become part of Western secular culture, helping to form ethical categories and preconceptions of Just War. Preemptive warfare has, since the very beginning of the tradition, been considered unjust, and yet it continues to be a tactic used by many governments, even those influenced by the Christian Just War tradition. Often using the language of the tradition, they find ways to argue that their preemptive strategies are just. For this reason, the effectiveness of Christian Just War theory is often debated. This study begins by tracing the historical development of the Christian Just War tradition from Jesus through Aquinas, examining each thinker's views on preemption. It then puts Christian Just War theory into the context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and explores two examples of preemptive war. Finally, it compares contrasting applications of Christian Just War theory in the debate over the Iraq War. While preemptive warfare is considered unjust, the idea of preemption is hard to define objectively. This is one reason that Christian Just War principles have been used to justify preemption, though the legitimacy of this usage is highly debated. While the correct usage of Christian Just War theory, which maintains the purpose and integrity of the principles, condemns preemptive warfare, the application of it determines its effectiveness.