Updated in light of recent events, this classic work–with more than 60,000 copies sold in previous editions–presents “a clear, humane, and startlingly original survey of the moral issues that complicate modern warmaking.”–The Atlantic.New York Times Book Review…. More >>
Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations
I just don’t get this book. Who is Walzer to tell us what is right and wrong? I think this author goes too far in voicing his opinion, often placing his views as being right. He even goes as far was backing his “opinions” with real events! I think authors like Walzer are a real danger in our society.
Rating: 1 / 5
Serious problems with this book include its extremely biased approach of upholding all of Israel’s actions as “Just”, while making all German actions of WWII look like they were connected with war crimes. Basic premise of the book is that Israeli actions are always right, German and PLO actions are completely wrong, and that the Walzer’s view of things is the only valid argument in the world. Extremely biased. The victor truly does decide the justness and “unjustness” of war, and Walzer can only take the Israeli side or the anti-American side of most arguments.
Rating: 1 / 5
I read this book for a class, and it is by far the dryest material I have ever read. It took me multiple attempts to stay awake through, let alone understand, each and every chapter. If this is your area of interest, then yes, Walzer has some bright insight and knows his stuff. But if you’re not a pacifist/poli-sci/conflict resolution-type person, by all means don’t waste your time. Professors: please think twice before throwing this at your students.
Rating: 2 / 5
Author: Walzer, Michael.
Title: Just and unjust wars : a moral argument with historical illustrations / Michael Walzer.
Edition: 2nd ed.
Publisher: New York : Basic Books, [1992]
Edition Date: 1992
Language: English
Physical Details: xxxiv, 361 p. ; 24 cm.
Subjects: War.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a good start. In its sheer breadth of knowledge it covers a vast array of questions from pre-emptic strikes to the status of civilians and the question of responsibility. WOnderful discussions on all aspects fo waging war from blockades, to the question of appeasement. A very fascinating read with several minor flaws.
THe first major flaw is the preoccupation of this book with western conflicts. Major wars, with millions of dead, have been waged in this century alone that did not involve the west, for instance the Iran-Iraq war. Little analysis in this study is given to the question of a non-western perespective on war and what it means for western nations confronting non-western ones, who live by completely different rules.
THe second major flaw is the all to often obsession with treating terrorism without mentioning Islam. In the chapter on terrorism and guerilla war their is a disproportionate focus on the IRA and the ‘Stern Gang’ which would make one assume that these organizations were disproportionatly good examples of terrorism. The opposite is true. Not one sentence, in fact not one word in this study deals with Islamic terrorism, which just happens to be the main confict in the world today. THe question of ‘just wars’ was obviously aimed at the recent Iraq war, so why not deal with the question of Sept 11? FLaws such as this point to an overreaching political correctness which takes away from this volumnes very heroic attempt to understand modern war.
Seth J. Frantzman
Rating: 4 / 5