When is it right to go to war? The most persuasive answer to this question has always been 'in self-defence'. David Rodin shows what's wrong with this answer. He proposes a comprehensive new theory of the right of self-defence which resolves many of the perplexing questions that have dogged both jurists and philosophers.



When is it right to go to war? The most persuasive answer to this question has always been 'in self-defense'. In a penetrating new analysis, bringing together moral philosophy, political science, and law, David Rodin shows what's wrong with this answer. He proposes a comprehensive new theory of the right of self-defense which resolves many of the perplexing questions that have dogged both jurists and moral philosophers. By applying the theory of self-defense to international relations, Rodin produces a far-reaching critique of the canonical Just War theory. The simple analogy between self-defense and national defense - between the individual and the state - needs to be fundamentally rethought, and with it many of the basic elements of international law and the ethics of international relations.