Life and Liberty

Share this post

National Defence and Just Wars

duncanwhitmore.substack.com

National Defence and Just Wars

Is State Military Action Ever Justified?

Duncan Whitmore
Jun 16, 2022
Share this post

National Defence and Just Wars

duncanwhitmore.substack.com

However much people may disagree on the how big the state should be, it is almost universally acknowledged that “national defence” – the protection of the citizenry from invasion by foreign states – is regarded not only as the primary function of the state but also its very raison d'être. Indeed, together with domestic security and protection from private criminals, such a function is joined at the hip with the state’s monopolistic use of force. Thus, it is difficult to imagine how, without this function, the state could exist as a distinct institution.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Life and Liberty to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2023 Duncan Whitmore
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing