New dilemmas of the «just war» theory

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Abstract

Referring to the classical tenets of the “just war” theory, the author also analyses its modern versions. While the research the author arrives at the conclusion that some political scientists have modernized the theory of “a just war” according to the modern times. For instance, due to the existence of new actors on the international arena, there were created a new version, which allows to include non-state actors for the analysis (which consequently led to abolition of such principles as legitimacy of authorities, “last resort” criteria and also led to the implementation of the preventive actions) as well as the principles just post bellum. It is interesting to note that some political scientists associate the theory of “a just war” with the issue of global leadership of the USA. Throughout the history the participants and the aims of the wars have undergone serious changes, so that nowadays they do not sound “just” (for example, theory of punitive war). Analyzing in detail the postulates of the theory of “just war”, the author turns to historical events - the “Arab Spring”, the confrontation between the USA and the USSR, modern information wars. The author arrives at the conclusion that the use of the theory of “just war” for the analysis of modern events remains relevant, however, requires the introduction of new postulates in the norms of the theory, in particular, the addition of the principles of jus ad bellum and jus post bellum.

About the authors

Ekaterina P. Shanchenko

Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Russian Academy of Science; Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO); Sechenov University

Author for correspondence.
Email: shanchenkoep@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-1522-3589

Junior researcher, Institute for International Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO); senior lecturer Institute of Linguistics and international communications, Sechenov University; PhD applicant, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) Russian Academy of Science

Moscow, Russian Federation

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Copyright (c) 2023 Shanchenko E.P.

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