The morality of force in asymmetric warfare

Thesis

This doctoral thesis addresses crucial theoretical and policy questions concerning the morality of force in asymmetric warfare. I argue that asymmetric warfare exposes fundamental flaws with the internal logic of traditionalism, posing a challenge to the theory that arises independently from the revisionist critique. Traditionalists, by their own account, propose different moral paradigms for conventional and asymmetric conflicts, yet they offer no compelling account of what triggers these...

Expand abstract

Authors: Rosen, BR

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: asymmetric warfare; counterterrorism; just war theory; liability; moral equality of combatants; legitimate authority
• Subjects: Philosophy; Just war doctrine; Public policy; International law and human rights; Applied ethics