Review by Choice Review
Miller (Georgetown Univ.) examines the trajectory of just war theory by tracing it from its Augustinian origins to a principal shift that occurred in the Westphalian period, and into the current Liberal tradition. Miller examines the primary authors and texts for each period in clear and illuminating detail. His critical stance within the Liberal tradition is evident when he claims that "Walzer's argument about intervention is strategically, historically, and morally incoherent" (p. 139). Miller attempts to address this incoherence by reinvigorating an Augustinian model within the conditions of a modern Liberal theory of government. Such a model, he argues, would justify reengagement with wars of intervention for humanitarian and moral reasons. While this theory has merits and is developed from a well-established historical and philosophical background, its application to cases in the final chapter of the book raises many more questions than it answers. For example, Miller argues that the US was morally justified in its Vietnam and Iraq wars, although not justified in jus post bellum--the morality governing restoration of peace after war. The high merit of this book stands primarily on its historical grounding and philosophical description of the just war tradition. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students and faculty. --Roger Ward, Georgetown College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
