A Legitimate, Legal and Just War

Today there is no consensus on the range of circumstances where the use of force is justified. In fact, the use of force threatens to be built on neither law, nor justice but on power alone. In this context a new international legal regime governing the use of force is more than a political necessity. This issue also applies to the use of force on humanitarian grounds in the so-called “humanitarian interventions”. This book has been written with the objective of contributing to the development of a new international legal regime governing the use of force. It analyses the notions of a legitimate, legal and just war and incorporates their common elements into a new paradigm of the lawful and justified use of force, which includes also humanitarian intervention. The model, drawing upon the principles of authority, ends, means and consequences provides guidance on the establishment of a new international legal regime. Being the first comprehensive publication printed in the Czech Republic exploring this internationally debated topic, the book provides new insights and is a valuable contribution to the gradually developing domestic debate on the questions germane to the use of force in international relations. It is primarily intended for international relations and law scholars, but it can also be used as a reference source in related courses.