BELLUM JUSTUM

bellum justum (bel-[schwa]m j[schwa]s-t[schwa]m). [Latin] Int’l law. A just war; one that the proponent considers morally and legally justifiable, such as a war against an aggressive, totalitarian regime. • Under Roman law, before war could be declared, the fetiales (a group of priests who monitored international treaties) had to certify to the Senate that just […]