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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Just war theory and the ANC's armed struggle
Author:Miller, S.R.
Year:1990
Periodical:Quest: An International African Journal of Philosophy (ISSN 1011-226X)
Volume:4
Issue:2
Period:December
Pages:81-102
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:South Africa
Southern Africa
Subjects:national liberation struggles
African National Congress (South Africa)
military sociology
Philosophy, Psychology
war
violence
philosophy
Abstract:After outlining a theory of the just war and characterizing the situation in South Africa, the author applies his just war theory to the armed struggle of the ANC and its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe. According to his definition of what constitutes a just war, the ANC is morally entitled to wage war against the South African government if (1) the latter is violating the rights of ANC members; (2) there is no alternative nonviolent method by which the ANC could prevent this violation; (3) the ANC has a reasonable chance of ending this violation by using violence; (4) it is probable that if the ANC uses violence the consequences, all things considered, will be better than if it does not; (5) the ANC uses violence only to the end of bringing about the cessation of the South African government's violation of the rights of ANC members; and (6) the ANC only uses types of violence that are morally legitimate, and an extent of violence that is necessary to the end in question. In terms of clauses (1), (2), (5) and (6) the ANC could reasonably claim to be engaged in a just war. However, the ANC's armed struggle does not meet the conditions specified in clauses (3) and (4), but this is due to lack of knowledge of outcomes, and it may be that their armed struggle could meet some acceptably weakened versions of these clauses. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in French (p. 80).
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