ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES: A JUST MEANS OF WAR?

In: Security dialogue, Band 28, Heft 3, S. 271-285

Abstract

THE DEBATE ON LANDMINES HAS BEEN MARKED BY A LACK OF A SHARED CONCEPTUAL VOCABULARY. THE ARGUMENTS FOR A TOTAL BAN ARE COUNCHED PRIMARILY IN MORAL TERMS, WHILE THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST A BAN EMPLOY MILITARY AND STRATEGIC TERMS. THIS GAP COULD BE BRIDGED BY USING THE VOCABULARY OF THE JUST WAR TRADITION. THE JUST WAR TRADITION ALL BUT OUTLAWS LANDMINES SINCE THE GRAVE SIDE-EFFECTS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE COMPLETELY.