Just War Theory and Non-State Actors
This book uses an historical body of knowledge, Just War Theory, as the basis for analyzing modern conflicts involving Armed Non-State Actors who employ force against states.
As the global community faces the challenges of globalization, terrorism, 24-hour international news coverage, super power collapse, weapons of mass destruction and failed states, the author explores whether the historic bodies of knowledge governing decision makers during conflict remain relevant. Tracing the evolution of Just War Theory, he analyzes circumstances involving Armed Non-State Actor (ANSA) groups possessing powerful and destructive capabilities and a desire to use them, and pursues answers to the central research question: how does Just War Theory apply in modern scenarios involving ANSA groups who challenge the state and international institutions monopoly on the use of force? The study finds that Just War Theory still has the capacity to accommodate modern-day statecraft and application in scenarios involving Armed Non-State Actors.
This book will be of great interest to those researching and studying in the fields of political theory, security studies, international relations, war and conflict studies, and public ethics.
Eric E. Smith retired from active military duty in October 2012, and joined Ramsey Solutions in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, where he advises military and veteran organizations. Additionally, he is Adjunct Professor at Belmont University where he teaches masters degree classes on leadership and organizational behavior.
Justice, International Law and Global Security
Series Editor:
Howard M. Hensel
Professor of Politico-Military Affairs at the USAF Air War College, USA
The global community is confronted with a wide variety of both traditional and non-traditional challenges to its security and even survival, as well as unprecedented opportunities for global socio-economic development. International law will play a major role as the international community attempts to address these challenges and opportunities while simultaneously attempting to create a just and secure global order capable of protecting and promoting the common good of the whole of mankind. The Routledge Series on Justice, International Law and Global Security is designed to encourage and highlight analytical, scholarly works that focus on the ways in which international law contributes to the management of a wide variety of contemporary challenges and opportunities, and helps to promote global justice and security. Toward that end, the series seeks to promote scholarship that addresses the critical linkage between the philosophical concept of justice as applied at the global level, international law, which in turn, must be based upon justice, and the ability of international law to establish normative standards of behaviour.
Peace Operations and Restorative Justice
Groundwork for Post-conflict Regeneration
Peter Reddy
Visions of Peace
Asia and The West
Edited by Takashi Shogimen and Vicki A. Spencer
Remembering Hiroshima
Was it Just?
Francis X. Winters
Just War Theory and Non-State Actors
Using an Historical Body of Knowledge in Modern Circumstances
Eric E. Smith
For more information, visit the webpage: www.routledge.com/Justice-International-Law-and-Global-Security/book-series/ASHSER-1292
Just War Theory and Non-State Actors
Using an Historical Body of Knowledge in Modern Circumstances
Eric E. Smith
First published 2020
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2020 Eric E. Smith
The right of Eric E. Smith to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Smith, Eric E., author.
Title: Just war theory and non-state actors : using an historical body of knowledge in modern circumstances / Eric E Smith.
Description: New York : Routledge, 2020. | Series: Justice, international law and global security | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019056049 (print) | LCCN 2019056050 (ebook) | ISBN 9781472473974 (hardback) | ISBN 9781315590837 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Just war doctrine. | Non-state actors (International relations) | TerrorismPreventionMoral and ethical aspects.
Classification: LCC U21.2 .S614 2020 (print) | LCC U21.2 (ebook) | DDC 172/.42dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056049
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056050
ISBN: 978-1-472-47397-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-59083-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Contents
Colonel (Retired) Eric E. Smith was born in Munich, Germany and raised as a military dependent from birth through his senior year of high school. After high school, he attended North Georgia College (Dahlonega, GA) where he participated in Army ROTC and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Graduating in 1984 with a bachelor of business administration, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in Army Aviation, and began his 28-year military career that included leading soldiers and flying a variety of helicopters. He later earned masters degrees in logistics management from Florida Institute of Technology and strategic studies from the Air War College, and a Ph.D. in political science from Auburn University. He deployed to combat in Operation Desert Shield and Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and has visited more than 17 foreign countries.
On October 1, 2012, he retired from active military duty, and joined Ramsey Solutions in Nashville, TN, where he advises military and veteran organizations. Additionally, he is Adjunct Professor at Belmont University where he teaches masters degree classes on leadership and organizational behavior.
Eric is married to Leslie Smith and they have three children: Jessica Donaldson (Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Denver CO), Taylor Crossfield (Doctor of Physical Therapy, Memphis, TN) and Colton Smith (Senior at University of Tennessee-Knoxville).
In the modern era mankind faces challenges that include: globalization, regional and international institutions assuming sovereign authority over states, devastating acts of terrorism, 24-hour international news coverage, super power collapse, weapons of mass destruction and failed states; and these events cause one to question if the historic bodies of knowledge used to guide decision makers are still relevant. One such body of knowledge used in statecraft is Just War Theory, a moral guideline for determining if suffice justification exists to employ military force in resolving conflicts among states or groups within states. Seeking limits on aggression and protection of innocents, a just war adheres to two generalities. First, using force requires satisfying at least some, and preferably all,
