War and International Justice: A Kantian Perspective

J.L. Granatstein, distinguished research professor emeritus of history
at York University. He is the author of Who Killed Canadian History? and
co-author of The Canadian 100: The 100 Most Influential Canadians of the
20th Century, Prime Ministers: Ranking

Political scientists are now writing about a neo-Westphalian world, and
philosophers, if this book is any guide, are talking about the Kantian
perspective on war. Late in his life, Immanuel Kant developed theories
about wars just and unjust, and as war is not going to disappear,
nation–states and individuals should know that some wars are
inherently just and some are not. The differences are crucial, and Brian
Orend, a philosopher at the University of Waterloo, looks at the ethics
of war and peace with a fresh eye. His emphasis properly is on the
protection of human rights in conflicts, the role of international law,
and the refutation of arguments for pacifism. For him, as for Kant, wars
can be just and postwar settlements also can be handled in ways that
serve justice and prevent the recurrence of conflict. There is much here
that is relevant to our present world, and Professor Orend’s
contribution is that he wades into the present issues without fear or
favor. Regrettably, his book will not likely be read by policymakers;
but it should be.