Just American Wars: Ethical Dilemmas in U.S. Military History

A Conversation with Author Eric Patterson

March 26, 2019
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Berkley Center Third Floor Conference Room Map

In his latest book Just American Wars: Ethical Dilemmas in U.S. Military History (2018), Eric Patterson examines the moral choices faced by U.S. leaders in deciding when and how to employ force, from the American Revolution to the present day. For instance, what was Truman’s responsibility for dropping the atomic bomb? How did JFK and Nixon’s egos impact moral decision-making toward Vietnam? Was the American Revolution a just war to begin with? The case studies provided highlight the nuances and even limits of just war principles, such as just cause, right intention, legitimate authority, last resort, likelihood of success, discrimination, and proportionality, and principles for ending war such as order, justice, and conciliation.

Patterson discussed historical examples from the book, highlighting the trade-offs that civilian and military leaders must take into account when making decisions about the use of force. An audience Q&A followed the discussion. Lunch was served.

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Eric Patterson discusses the just war tradition.

An audience member asks a question during the Q&A.

Eric Patterson highlights historical examples from his latest book on ethical dilemmas in U.S. military history.

Eric Patterson addresses audience questions.

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About Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson is president and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and is a research fellow with the Georgetown University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. He previously served as president of the Religious Freedom Institute, dean of the School of Government at Regent University, and before that, as associate director at the Berkley Center. He is an expert in two overlapping areas: the ethics of war and peace, and global religious trends and religious freedom policy. These two areas routinely intersect, such as in building post-conflict systems that represent diverse ethnoreligious factions, understanding the religious factors in conflict, and measuring U.S. democracy promotion efforts. His government experience includes time at the U.S. State Department, service as a White House Fellow, and over 20 years as an Air National Guard commander. He is the author or editor of 20 books, including Politics in a Religious World: Toward a Religious Informed U.S. Foreign Policy (2011).

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