Book contents
- Military Necessity
- Military Necessity
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Treaties and Associated Instruments
- Table of Cases
- Abbreviations
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Military Necessity in Its Material Context
- 2 Fitness of Means and Vocational Competence
- 3 Objections and Responses
- Part III Military Necessity in Its Normative Context
- Part IV Military Necessity in Its Juridical Context
- Part V Conclusion
- Select Bibliography
- Index
2 - Fitness of Means and Vocational Competence
from Part II - Military Necessity in Its Material Context
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 May 2020
- Military Necessity
- Military Necessity
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Treaties and Associated Instruments
- Table of Cases
- Abbreviations
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Military Necessity in Its Material Context
- 2 Fitness of Means and Vocational Competence
- 3 Objections and Responses
- Part III Military Necessity in Its Normative Context
- Part IV Military Necessity in Its Juridical Context
- Part V Conclusion
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Chapter 2 illustrates how material necessity reflects a two-fold truism that it is in each belligerent’s strategic interest to do what is necessary and to avoid what is unnecessary. The notion evaluates how the means taken advances the ends sought under the prevailing circumstances. A given act can be a military necessity compared to some alternatives, yet a non-necessity compared to some other alternatives. Acts that are wasteful, excessive, inapposite, futile or purposeless are improvable military non-necessities rather than solely the results of war’s irresistible friction. The necessity assessment of particular action cannot be meaningfully generalised or seen outside of its factual context.
Keywords
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- Military NecessityThe Art, Morality and Law of War, pp. 19 - 36Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020