Explain Just War.

Just War theory is a set of principles that seeks to provide ethical guidelines for the conduct of warfare and the decision to go to war. It is rooted in moral and philosophical traditions and aims to reconcile the inherent tension between the need to defend against aggression and the imperative to minimize harm and suffering during armed conflict.

Key principles of Just War theory include:

1. Jus ad Bellum (Justice in Going to War):

   • Just Cause: War must be waged for a morally justifiable reason, such as self-defense against aggression, protection of innocent life, or defense of human rights.
   • Legitimate Authority: War must be authorized by a legitimate governing authority, such as a sovereign state or international organization, with the right to declare war.
   • Right Intention: The primary intention behind going to war must be to achieve a just outcome, such as restoring peace, securing justice, or defending against aggression.
   • Last Resort: War must be considered only as a last resort when all peaceful means of resolving a conflict have been exhausted or are unlikely to succeed.
   • Probability of Success: There must be a reasonable likelihood of success in achieving the war's objectives, and the benefits of war must outweigh the costs.

2. Jus in Bello (Justice in Conducting War):

   • Discrimination: Combatants must distinguish between legitimate military targets and non-combatants, and must not intentionally target civilians or engage in indiscriminate attacks.
   • Proportionality: The use of force must be proportional to the military objectives sought, and the harm caused to civilians and civilian objects must not be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage.
   • Prohibition of Means: Combatants must refrain from using weapons or methods of warfare that cause unnecessary suffering, violate fundamental human rights, or are inherently indiscriminate.

Just War theory provides a framework for assessing the moral legitimacy of going to war and conducting warfare, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations, accountability, and the protection of human dignity amidst the brutality of armed conflict. It continues to inform debates on the ethics of war and influence international law and policy regarding the use of force.