Non-combatant immunity, weapons of mass destruction and pacifism

Overview

Principle of non-combatant immunity, weapons of mass destruction and doctrine of nuclear deterrence.

What you need to know

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Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   State the principle of non-combatant immunity.

   Model answer

   Non-combatant immunity holds that those who are not engaged in the fighting may never be made the deliberate object of attack.

2. 2

   On what grounds is non-combatant immunity defended?

   Model answer

   The principle is defended on the ground that the liability of a combatant arises from the threat they pose, so those posing no threat retain their ordinary right not to be killed.

3. 3

   How is the doctrine of double effect applied in warfare?

   Model answer

   The doctrine permits an attack on a military target that will foreseeably kill civilians, provided their deaths are not intended, are not the means to the objective, and are proportionate to the military advantage.

4. 4

   What are weapons of mass destruction?

   Model answer

   Weapons of mass destruction are nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological weapons capable of killing very large numbers of people indiscriminately.

5. 5

   Why are weapons of mass destruction hard to reconcile with Just War criteria?

   Model answer

   Their effects cannot be confined to combatants and are difficult to keep proportionate, so their use appears to breach both discrimination and proportionality.

6. 6

   State the doctrine of nuclear deterrence.

   Model answer

   Nuclear deterrence holds that possessing a credible capacity to retaliate prevents attack, so the weapons are kept precisely in order that they need never be used.

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