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• War:


  War is an attempt by one state to either:

  - Defend itself against another state.

  - To try and take something such as land, resources or freedom from another power.
• Just War:


  A war that is fought for the right reasons and in a right way.
• Pacifism:


  The belief that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means.
• Weapons of Mass Destruction:

  Weapons which can destroy large areas and numbers of people.
• Child Soldiers:

  Children under 18 recruited or forced to be soldiers/suicide bombers etc.
• Nuclear Deterrent:

  The possibility that a country will use its nuclear weapons deters another country from attacking it.
• What are the reasons war starts?

  - Religion.

  - Nationalism and ethnicity.

  - Economics.

  - Political differences.
• Religion:

  Different religions followed in one place can cause conflict (Kashmir is a mainly Muslim area in a mostly Hindu country).

  Disputes within religions (Sunni & Shia Muslims fighting for control in Iraq).

  When two religious groups claim one area as their God-given land (Israel and Palestine).
• Nationalism and ethnicity:


  When an ethnic or cultural group within a region or country is much larger than other groups, they can favour their own group over another, this can lead to the minority groups fighting civil wars (Kosovo).

  Some minority groups want to set up their own breakaway states (Kurds in Iraq/Syria).
• Economics:

  World economy (financial security) can cause conflicts if one country has a resource another country needs (oil, gas).

  If economic problems hit hard it can lead to civil unrest causing refugees to flee and some citizens of nearby countries not wanting refugees (Syria and Europe).
• Political differences:

  If one group holds particular strong viewpoints on certain issues (ideologies) and then tries to enforce those views on other people or neighbouring countries, this can case national or even world wars (Nazi Germany, Communist North Korea on the Republic of South Korea).
• Just War:

  - Mainly a Christian theory, which begins with the belief that taking a human life is wrong.

  - However, it also holds that countries do have a duty to protect and defend their citizens.

  - In some extreme cases this means being willing to use force.

  - Purpose is to guide a state when faced with potential threat and conflict situations.

  - It should help it to decide if it should go to war.

  - Theory shows that war is wrong, except in exceptional circumstances and that a just cause.
• 8 Criteria for a Just War:

  1) Last resort.

  2) Lawfully declared.

  3) Just cause.

  4) Reasonable chance of success.

  5) Good gained is greater than the evil caused.

  6) Proportionality.

  7) No death of innocent civilians.

  8) Peace restored.
• Last resort:

  War must be the last resort. All other possibilities of settling the problem should be tried, for example, negotiation, or withdrawal of financial aid. The Charter of the United Nations states that short of actual attack, "all Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means" (Article 2:3).
• Lawfully declared:

  War must be lawfully declared by a government with the authority to declare war. 'Ordinary' people or even terrorists like Osama Bin Laden could not declare a Just War.
• Just cause:

  There must be a just cause and proper intention for the war, such as keeping peace or defending the innocent.
• Reasonable chance of success:

  There must be a reasonable chance of success, victory is likely.
• Good gained is greater than the evil caused.

  The good gained by winning the war must be greater than the evil caused by fighting it. Some people would argue Hitler would have killed many more people if the Allies did not declare war.
• Proportionality:

  There must be proportionality. Only 'appropriate' force should be used. If someone throws a stone at you, killing their whole family is not just. The same principle applies here.
• No death of innocent civilians:

  Innocent civilians should not be killed.
• Peace restored:


  Peace must be restored at the end.
• Why do Christians believe in Just War?

  - St Paul said inRomans 13andTitus 3that Christians must obey the orders of the government.- Jesus never condemned the soldiers he met and commended their faith inLuke 7.- When Jesus was asked about paying taxes he said “Give to - Caesar what is Caesar’s” which must mean fighting in a ‘just war’ ordered by the government.- Everyone including Christians agree that a police force is needed to protect innocent people from criminals. In the same way an army is needed to police the world and fight ‘just wars’ in order to protect innocent countries from criminal ones.
• What do the churches say?

  The Roman Catholic Church supports a Just War:

  - "While the danger of war remains... governments cannot be denied the right to defence if they have exhausted every peaceful means of settlement."

  They define a just cause:

  - "Force may be used onto to correct a grave, public evil, i.e. aggression or massive violation of the basic rights of whole populations."
• Use of Nuclear Weapons:

  On6ᵗʰ August 1945, US forces used an atom bombs on Hiroshima during the Second World War. Over150,000people died in Hiroshima.Due to the bombing, Japan then surrendered, thus ended the war. Due to this, some people say their use of the atom bomb was justified.
• Why did America drop the bomb?

  - Japan needed to be totally defeated - no half measures.- The war could have gone on for months with huge loss of life when America invaded.- Around60,000people died in the explosion at Hiroshima and more than120,000died from the after effects. However, this is probably fewer than would have been killed in the invasion.- The scientists weren't sure it would work so a trial explosion would not have been of use - they needed the shock value of exploding it in a populated area.- The Americans wanted the Russians to know they had the technology of the bomb and the willingness to use it!
• Weapons of Mass Destruction:

  Weapons that can kill large numbers of people and/or cause great damage.
• Chemical Weapons:


  Weapons that use chemicals to poison, burn or paralyse humans and destroy the natural environment.
• Biological Weapons:


  Weapons that have living organisms or infective material that can lead to disease or death.
• Radiological Weapons:


  "Dirty bombs" weapons that combine radioactive material with explosives.
• Nuclear Weapons:


  Weapons that work by a nuclear reaction, they devastate huge areas and kill large numbers of people.
• Explosive Weapons:


  Weapons that use large amounts of explosive to cause death.
• Chemical Weapons Convention:


  This is the treaty which bans production, stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons.

  As of May 2018, 193 states have become parties to the CWC and accept its obligations.

  As of January 2018, over 96% of the world's declared chemical weapons stockpiles had been destroyed.

  Egypt, South Sudan and North Korea have not signed the treaty.

  The OPCW Member States represent about 98% of the global population and landmass, as well as 98% of the worldwide chemical industry.

  The main modern uses of chemical weapons have occurred in Syria in 2015, 2016, 2017 and April 2018 (in which it is claimed 40 died). The latest attack resulted in retaliation bombing by the US, Britain and France.
• What are the arguments to

  supportnuclear weapons?- Deterrent.

  - Strategically important.

  - Quicker and stronger.

  - Status.
• Deterrent:


  If a country has nuclear weapons, another country will hesitate to attack them. It also makes diplomatic efforts more effective as they don't want to end in nuclear war (India and Pakistan).
• Strategically important:


  Can inflict huge casualties on the opposition with minimal casualties on your own side.
• Quicker and stronger:


  Brings a quick end to World War 2 where without them the war would have continued for months possibly years.
• Status:


  As a country it increases your standing on the world stage (this is why North Korea is so keen to have nuclear weapons).
• What are the arguments

  againstnuclear weapons?- Civilian deaths.

  - Cost and maintenance.

  - Accidental use.

  - Radioactive waste.

  - Terrorism.

  - Environmental pollution.
• Civilian deaths:


  There is no way to discriminate in who is killed.
• Cost and maintenance:


  They are very expensive to build and maintain.