Single Idea 23614

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / c. Combatants]

Full Idea

Soldiers fighting for an aggressor state are not themselves criminals: hence their war rights are the same as those of their opponents.

Gist of Idea

Even aggressor soldiers are not criminals, so they have equal rights with their opponents

Source

Michael Walzer (Just and Unjust Wars [1977], 08)

Book Reference

Walzer,Michael: 'Just and Unjust Wars' [Penguin 1984], p.136


A Reaction

Walzer's main support for this is that opposing armies never regard one another as intrinsically criminal. It seems inevitable, though, that even the invaders themselves see that they are a bit more criminal than the defenders.