Terrorism and the right to resist : a theory of just revolutionary war

356 Pages·2015·2.427 MB·English

by  Finlay, Christopher J

Terrorism and the Right to Resist
In recent times the words ‘rebellion’ and ‘revolution’ have gained a
renewed prominence in the vocabulary of world politics and with them
sohasthequestionofjustifiablearmed‘resistance’.InthisbookChristo-
pherFinlayextendsjustwartheorytoprovidearigorousandsystematic
accountoftherighttoresistoppressionandoftheformsofarmedforceit
canjustify.Hespecifiesthecircumstancesinwhichrebelshavetherightto
claimrecognitionaslegitimateactorsinrevolutionarywarsagainstdomes-
tictyrannyandinjustice,andwarsofliberationagainstwrongfulforeign
occupation and colonialism. Arguing that violence is permissible only in
a narrow range of cases, Finlay shows that the rules of engagement vary
duringandbetweendifferentconflictsandexploresthepotentialforirreg-
ular tactics to become justifiable, such as non-uniformed guerrillas and
civiliandisguise,theassassinationofpoliticalleadersandregimeofficials,
andthewagingofterroristwaragainstciviliantargets.
christopher finlay is Reader in Political Theory in the Department
ofPoliticalScienceandInternationalStudiesattheUniversityofBirming-
ham.HepreviouslytaughtHistoryatTrinityCollegeDublinandPolitical
PhilosophyatUniversityCollegeDublin.

Terrorism and the Right
to Resist
A Theory of Just Revolutionary War
christopher j. finlay
UniversityofBirmingham
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Contents
Acknowledgements pagex
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Revolutionsarmedandunarmed 1
1.2 Armedresistanceandtheconceptofterrorism 3
1.3 Outlineoftheargument 8
PartI Theoryandprinciples
2 Justice,oppression,andtherighttoresist 19
2.1 Arighttoresist 19
2.2 Oppressionandtheobjectsofresistance 20
2.3 Humanrightsand‘therevolutionarystance’ 27
2.4 Fromhumanrightstotherighttoresist 30
2.5 Self-determinationandsocialjusticeasgoalsofrightful
resistance 36
2.6 Justiceandthedutytoresist 42
2.7 Conclusion:resistancetooppressionasaright 52
3 Rightsworthkillingfor 55
3.1 Theproblemofnarrowproportionality 55
3.2 Threepossibleresponses 58
3.3 Politicaloppressionandconditionalthreats 63
3.4 Twoqualifications 67
3.5 Contextsforrightfularmedresistance 76
4 Thecodesofresistance 87
4.1 Introduction 87
4.2 Thejusinbello 90
4.3 LimitsoftheStandardjusinbello 109
4.4 Conclusion 123
5 Rightsworthdyingfor:Distributingthecostsofresistance 125
5.1 Thejusadbellumandtheinbellocodes 125
vii
viii Contents
5.2 Necessity,success,andproportionality 128
5.3 Adbellumproportionality:balancinginnocentcasualties 136
5.4 Combatants,friendlyandunfriendly 139
5.5 Non-combatantnon-beneficiaries 141
5.6 Non-combatantbeneficiaries:offsettinginnocentcasualties 146
5.7 Theproportionalityofresistance 149
5.8 Theproportionalityparadox 151
PartII Warsofliberation:FightingwithintheStandardJIB
6 Non-stategroupsandtheauthoritytowagewar 157
6.1 Introduction 157
6.2 Defendingindividualsfromattack 159
6.3 LegitimateauthorityandtheStandardJIB 168
6.4 Legitimateauthorityandnon-stategroups 178
6.5 Conclusions 184
7 Guerrillawar,discrimination,andtheproblemoflawful
irregulars 190
7.1 Introduction 190
7.2 Discriminationandthelegalliabilityofjustcombatants 193
7.3 Justdeterminationsofdiscrimination 199
7.4 Discriminationandtherightsofirregularcombatants 206
7.5 Conclusion 214
PartIII Fightingbeyondthelawofwar
8 ThePartisanjusinbello:Resistancebeyondthelaws
ofwar 219
8.1 Introduction 219
8.2 ThePartisanJIB 220
8.3 Viewpointsonasymmetricwar 231
8.4 TheStandardJIBversusthePartisanJIB 238
8.5 Conclusions 245
9 Terroristwar 247
9.1 Introduction 247
9.2 A‘logicalchoice’ 250
9.3 Themoralwrong(s)ofterrorism 255
9.4 Modelsforall-things-consideredjustification(A):
proportionality 261