THE PEACE THAT NEVER CAME:
A DEFENSE OF MORALITY IN TIMES OF WAR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7443/problemata.v17i1.74117Keywords:
War, Morality, Pacifism, Realism, Just WarAbstract
War has been a constant companion to humanity since its earliest beginnings, emerging as one of the most persistent and structural phenomena in social life. Despite the diplomatic strides made after the Second World War, such as the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, armed conflict continues to be widely used in resolving disputes, marked by the proliferation of civil wars and the involvement of non-state actors. This article examines the persistence and transformation of war through the lens of three main theoretical approaches, assessing their strengths and limitations in confronting contemporary challenges: pacifism, realism, and just war theory. It is argued that, while these theories provide valuable tools for interpretation, the rapid technological advancements, environmental crises, and competition for scarce resources necessitate new moral and political categories to address the increasing volatility of the global landscape. In this context, thinking about war is also inherently thinking about peace and, above all, the survival of humanity in the face of an ever more concentrated and potentially catastrophic power.
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