Morality and Ethics at War: Bridging the Gaps Between the Soldier and the State

Product Description

In Morality and Ethics of War, which includes a foreword by Major General Susan Coyle, ethicist Deane-Peter Baker goes beyond existing treatments of military ethics to address a fundamental problem- the yawning gap between the diverse moral frameworks defining personal identity on the one hand, and the professional military ethic on the other.
Baker argues that overcoming this chasm is essential to minimising the ethical risks that can lead to operational and strategic failure for military forces engaged in today's complex conflict environment. He contends that spanning the gap is vital in preventing moral injury from befalling the nation's uniformed servants. Drawing on a revised account of what he calls 'the Just War Continuum', Baker develops a bridging framework that combines conceptual clarity and rigour with insights from cutting edge psychological research and creates a practical means for military leaders to negotiate the moral chasm in military affairs.In Morality and Ethics of War, which includes a foreword by Major General Susan Coyle, ethicist Deane-Peter Baker goes beyond existing treatments of military ethics to address a fundamental problem- the yawning gap between the diverse moral frameworks defining personal identity on the one hand, and the professional military ethic on the other.
Baker argues that overcoming this chasm is essential to minimising the ethical risks that can lead to operational and strategic failure for military forces engaged in today's complex conflict environment. He contends that spanning the gap is vital in preventing moral injury from befalling the nation's uniformed servants. Drawing on a revised account of what he calls 'the Just War Continuum', Baker develops a bridging framework that combines conceptual clarity and rigour with insights from cutting edge psychological research and creates a practical means for military leaders to negotiate the moral chasm in military affairs.
Deane-Peter Baker is an Associate Professor of Ethics at the University of New South Wales, Australia; a Visiting Research Fellow in the Kings College London Centre for Military Ethics, UK; and a Research Associate in the Centre for Applied Ethics at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Previous books include Citizen Killings (Bloomsbury 2016) and Just Warriors Inc. (Continuum 2010).