Ethics of 21st Century Military Conflict

Although the idea of ethical warfare may seem inherently paradoxical, efforts to justify the resort to war and to develop ethical constraints on uses of armed force are as old as war itself. This compendium explores some of the ethical challenges that arise in wartime, with a particular focus on contemporary warfare. Authors in the anthology debate

Is the only ethical perspective on war one that abandons it altogether? Or given the seeming inevitability of war, should we take seriously the possibility that there are good and bad reasons to go to war?

Are there better or worse actions to be pursued by those involved in military conflict?

Should there be absolute limits on certain actions, or might any action be justified under extreme emergencies of war?

Has the "war on terror" raised unique challenges to our understanding of ethics in war?