Just War and Counterinsurgency: Effective Strategy and the Right Thing to Do

Abstract

This study argues that employing a moral strategy constitutes a more effective means of waging counterinsurgency (COIN) warfare than unjust methods. Observance of jus in bello (justice in war) principles mandates tactics which, historically for democracies, advance strategic goals while prohibiting actions that contribute-to defeat. The body of research reviewed here also serves to defeat the arguments that fighting morally in COIN exposes soldiers to increased danger. To develop these points this paper: 1) discusses customary and conventional jus in bello principles within the framework of COIN to define what it means to fight a "just" counterinsurgency; 2) examines existing literature that investigates the efficacy of employing moral tactics in COIN; and 3) evaluates the effectiveness of just COIN strategy through the case study of the United States actions in the Philippine Insurrection.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 26, 2010
Accession Number
ADA600500

Entities

People

  • Leo Wyszynski

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Counterinsurgency
  • Criminals
  • Governments
  • Insurgency
  • International Law
  • Law
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Systems
  • Prisoners Of War
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies