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War, Peace and Human Rights

In this unit we ask whether it is ever right to go to war. We look at one tradition that provides a justification for going to war - Just War Theory. We also consider the view that it is always wrong to engage in war - Pacifism.

This leads to a discussion about the use of violence, and we consider how some people have used non-violent methods to achieve their goals.

We also look at Human Rights, with a particular focus on those who have had their basic rights abused. This includes people locked up for their beliefs - prisoners of conscience.

Finally we look at those who have broken the law, and ask how best to respond. Why do we punish criminals, and does it work?

Key Terms:

Holy war: Some religions have claimed that wars can be holy if they are fought in the name of God.

Pacifism: Refusal to use violence or to fight in wars.

Conscientious Objector: Person who refuses, on the basis of conscience, to fight in a war. COs can serve in non-combatant roles, e.g. stretcher-bearer. CO does not have to be a pacifist, he may just object to a particular war.

Prisoner of conscience: Someone imprisoned for what they believe or who they are, not for what they have done.

Fact file Total global military expenditure = approx. $1.5 million a minute. WWI killed 9 million men, and seriously wounded over 21 million more. 50% of victims in WWII were civilians. 90% of victims in wars today are civilians. Between 200,000 and 400,000 women were raped in Bangladesh during a nine-month conflict in 1971.

Causes and effects of war

Humans have a violent streak in their nature, probably because of fighting for survival for thousands of years. The main causes of war today are:

• Politics / ideology e.g. Communism Vs Capitalism
• Religion e.g. Protestant Vs Catholic, Muslim Vs Jew
• Nationalism e.g. Getting rid of a foreign rule
• Race / ethnicity e.g. Serb Vs Croat
• Lust for power / money e.g. Seizing land of other nations, e.g. Hitler
• Revenge e.g. Being defeated in a previous war
• Economics e.g. Fighting to provide better resources for own people
• Injustice e.g. Fighting an oppressive situation or regime, fighting for justice
• Fear e.g. Defence against a threatening military enemy
• A powerful individual/group e.g. a dictator who tries to rule others by force

The main effects of war are:

• Millions of deaths – more than 30,000 people die every month because of war.
• Many die because countries spend money on weapons, not clean water, food, health or education.
• Massive environmental damage.
• 90% of victims in war are innocent civilians –
• Massive refugee crisis (e.g. Afghanistan today), resulting in starvation, misery and death.