Military Ethics: An Introduction with Case Studies

by Stephen Coleman

Military An Introduction with Case Studies provides an accessible introduction to the ethical issues faced by today's junior and mid-ranking military personnel. Offering an exceptionally practical perspective, it includes more than fifty engaging case studies--personal, historical, and fictional accounts--that give students a bird's-eye view of various real-world ethical dilemmas. Opening with an introduction to ethics and an overview of ethical theory, the book goes on to discuss ethical problems related the use and misuse of power and authority; discrimination and proportionality in traditional conflicts, irregular wars, and humanitarian military interventions; supreme emergency, terrorism, and responses to terrorism; and much more.

Military Ethics is enhanced by suggestions for further reading, an abbreviation key, an extensive bibliography, and an appendix including a list of the international treaties that make up the Law of Armed Conflict. A companion website at www.oup.com/us/coleman features lecture notes, additional case studies, and discussion questions.

Genres: Nonfiction

300 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2012

Reviews

[Dr. Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the book is certainly informative. It it starts out promising and slowly digresses toward the end. While all the underlying foundations and principles are indeed solidly presented, it becomes rapidly obvious that professor Coleman has never, himself, been in harms way. Thus his text at times comes off at times like the rantings of a pontificating arm chair general An undercurrent if judgmental superiority tends to make for unsettling reading at times. In several passages, including one section relating to examining the difference between warriors and murderers as the author so crudely fashions it (making one wonder if this is actually a secret liberal in wolfs clothing attempting to pacify future junior officers), he uses the writings of General Petraeus, to explain the moral high ground. The fact that he uses a General, who was himself morally humiliated and publicly disgraced (although I both like and admire the man personally), is a clear indication and speaks volumes of the limitations of how ethics apply to reality. Certainly the points made are laudable, despite relying rather heavily on the seminal, if rather dated, work of Michael Walzer.

I will now proceed to shock all those who are ardent supporters and worshipers of Walzer. Walzer was brilliant and set the gold standard for modern war ethics during his day. But his day is gone and it has been since September 11, 2001. This is a new world calling for new rules of engagement, regardless what the pundits declare. While the lessons Walzer offered are still valuable and can provide guidance, we now face new and determined enemies who are not the enemies of the past. This is a new game and it requires new rules. Coleman is part of the new, old guard hanging on to idealistic perceptions of right and wrong.

I am certainly not advocating jettisoning all the rules of international humanitarian law, and the ethics of jus ad bellum and jus in bello by the wayside, but I am saying clearly that they no longer suit out purpose in their current guise and definitely need a drastic face lift.

On a more positive note, Coleman's use of various case studies helps to illustrate his points in a pertinent and enlightened manner and add a little zip to what might otherwise be an exercise in dry academic theory.

There is certainly too much Commonwealth consideration for a text aimed at an international audience, this is frequently a shortcoming of commonwealth writers, they end to concentrate on their little corner of the world and overemphasise their relation to it. Nevertheless the case studies help server to illustrate the concepts and principles the author is attempting to convey.

It falls short in several areas. Notably there is hardly any mention of the drone phenomenon, except in a general passing sense, which is now part and parcel of modern conflict. Little attention is paid to the questions of state sovereignty, and political overreach as an ethical dilemma. Attention to the ethical questions surrounding privacy and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), would have been a useful addition.

All in all a good primer on Military ethics.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great overview of military ethics, with a lot of interesting case studies. My only gripe is that the author presents some really interesting cases, where individuals have to undergo rapid and complex moral decision-making, but he doesn't always tell us what happened in his cases (i.e. what decision was taken).

Provides a really great intro to ethics, and places it well in the military context. Covers traditional warfare, COIN/PKO, terrorism, etc., well by lookin at both jus in bello and jus ad bellum issues.