Just and Unjust Peace: An Ethic of Political Reconciliation

Author: Daniel Philpott

May 1, 2012

How can justice be achieved and peace restored where the wounds of war, genocide, and dictatorship are so deep? Why does the approach to peace-building that dominates the United Nations, Western governments, and the human rights community so often fall short of bringing healing to torn societies? Is there a universal standard that will work for people of diverse and often conflicting religious, cultural, and philosophical backgrounds? In Just and Unjust Peace: an Ethic of Political Reconciliation, Daniel Philpott explains why justice and an effective political order call for a more holistic, restorative approach. He proposes a form of political reconciliation that is deeply rooted in three religious traditions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—that fully express the concepts of justice, mercy, and peace. By adapting these concepts to modern constitutional democracy and international norms, Philpott crafts an ethic that can have universal appeal and offers a fresh approach to the age-old problem of restoring justice in the aftermath of widespread injustice.

External Link

Opens in a new window