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How to End a War

How to End a War

How to End a War

Essays on Justice, Peace, and Repair
Editors:
Graham Parsons, United States Military Academy
Mark Wilson, Villanova University, Pennsylvania
Graham Parsons, Mark Wilson, Cheyney Ryan, Lisa Tessman, Nancy Sherman, Nir Eisikovits, Colleenmurphy, Alex J. Bellamy, David Rodin, Darrel Moellendorf, Daniel Maurer, Daniel Philpott
Published:
May 2025
Availability:
Available
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781108994859

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    How and when should we end a war? What place should the pathways to a war's end have in war planning and decision-making? This volume treats the topic of ending war as part and parcel of how wars begin and how they are fought – a unique, complex problem, worthy of its own conversation. New essays by leading thinkers and practitioners in the fields of philosophical ethics, international relations, and military law reflect on the problem and show that it is imperative that we address not only the resolution of war, but how and if a war as waged can accommodate a future peace. The essays collectively solidify the topic and underline its centrality to the future of military ethics, strategy, and war.

    • Initiates new conversations as the first volume to treat the topic of ending wars as a singular area of interest
    • Offers guidance to theorists and practitioners so that we can avoid and resolve protracted conflicts
    • Includes perspectives from multiple disciplines, including philosophy, international relations, and military law

    Reviews & endorsements

    ‘How to End a War is a strong anthology by a major group of scholars which makes important contributions to the crucial issues in the area that has come to be called jus post bellum.' Steven P. Lee, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

    ‘A marvellous set of essays that together provide a stimulating overview of cutting-edge issues in contemporary ethics of war.’ Journal of Peace Research

    ‘How to End a War is worthwhile reading for its new perspectives on jus ex bello and jus post bellum, the integral view on just war theory (where the different branches are intimately connected), and for highlighting the links between the theory and related issues that are equally important for the justice of ending wars. In this way, the volume also draws much needed attention to the experiences of the combatants that we send to war.’ Ethics and International Affairs

    See more reviews

    Product details

    May 2025
    Paperback
    9781108994859
    244 pages
    229 × 152 × 13 mm
    0.362kg
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • Introduction: 'the ethics of war after the longest war' Graham Parsons and Mark Wilson
    • 1. 'The lament of the demobilized' Cheyney Ryan
    • 2. 'Moral injury and moral failure' Lisa Tessman 3. 'Stoic grit, moral injury and resilience' Nancy Sherman
    • 4. 'Political humiliation and the sense of replacement' Nir Eisikovits
    • 5. 'Minimum moral thresholds at war's end' Colleenmurphy
    • 6. 'Endling endless wars' Alex J. Bellamy
    • 7. 'Forever wars: time and value in war' David Rodin
    • 8. 'Two conceptions of the proportionality budget for Jus Ex Bello' Darrel Moellendorf
    • 9. 'Toward a post bellum lieber code' Daniel Maurer
    • 10. 'Reconciliation is justice – and a strategy for military victory' Daniel Philpott
    • Bibliography
    • Index.
      Contributors
    • Graham Parsons, Mark Wilson, Cheyney Ryan, Lisa Tessman, Nancy Sherman, Nir Eisikovits, Colleenmurphy, Alex J. Bellamy, David Rodin, Darrel Moellendorf, Daniel Maurer, Daniel Philpott

    • Editors
    • Graham Parsons , United States Military Academy

      Graham Parsons is Associate Professor of Philosophy at United State Military Academy West Point.

    • Mark Wilson , Villanova University, Pennsylvania

      Mark A. Wilson is Professor of Ethics at Villanova University.