Contemporary Terrorism: Ethical And Conceptual Perspectives

Abstract

This is the first systematic and comprehensive philosophical exploration of contemporary terrorism and responses to it. It will test the theoretical approaches?realism, consequentialism, just war theory, and pacifism?and provide an account of all major conceptual and moral issues: the nature of terrorism and how it differs from other types of political violence, war, and guerilla war; the distinctive traits of contemporary terrorism; whether states can, and do, employ terrorism; whether terrorism can ever be morally justified and, if so, under what circumstances; the moral constraints on counterterrorist measures taken by states, coalitions of states, and the world community.