Old Traditions new Perspectives

Abstract

This thesis looks at the discord between asymmetric warfare and just war theory. Specifically, it looks at the place of just war theory in political science, and the competing theories that analyse war. Consequently, it looks at the specific problems that face just war theory in an asymmetric warfare context, by looking at the three parts of just war theory. The first is jus ad bellum, the justice of war, and looks at the decision to go to war. The second is jus in bello, the justice in war, and looks at the conduct of war. The final is jus post bellum, and looks at the conclusion of war. By the end of this thesis, I aim to have provided a basis for reconciling asymmetric warfare and just war theory.