Miller develops a framework for the intellectual history of just war, describing how and why it changed over time, to assess cases of contemporary warfare. This study will appeal to students and scholars of international relations, security studies, law, political science, political philosophy and military history.

When is war just? What does justice require? Miller draws from the intellectual history of just war to assess contemporary warfare.

'Paul D. Miller's latest book is a well-written, well-crafted meditation on both the actual and intellectual history of the justice of political violence. Gripping current cases - from drones to cyber to Syria - are considered. Combining his own extensive military intelligence expertise (especially in Afghanistan) with his deep theoretical knowledge, Miller builds a meaty, rewarding, important volume focusing on when, if ever, to go to war, and which duties arise in its aftermath. Terrific in breadth, research, application, and overall construction, its best achievement resides in its combination of historical mastery and moral plausibility.' Brian Orend, Author of The Morality of War (2013) and War and Political Theory (2019).