just war doctrine
just-war doctrine. Int’l law. The principle that a war should have a morally and legally sufficient cause, and must be conducted with restraint. • Precisely what is morally or legally sufficient depends on the norms of a time and place. Over the centuries the doctrine has been invoked to justify wars waged in self-defense, to avenge injuries and punish wrongs, and over religious differences. Restraint means that the least amount of force possible under the circumstances should be used and only when necessary. — Also termed just-war theory. See BELLUM JUSTUM.
