Super Short Summary

In Just and Unjust Wars, Michael Walzer explores the moral evaluation of war, arguing against the realist paradigm that places no restrictions on warfare, instead setting criteria for justifications of war (jus ad bellum) and conduct in war (jus in bello). He outlines legitimate cases for wartime intervention and condemns targeting noncombatants and employing terror tactics, proposing a stringent moral framework to decide the justice of war actions. The book addresses potentially distressing themes such as war crimes, terrorism, and nuclear warfare.