Morality and Ethics at War: Bridging the Gaps Between the Soldier and the State

Deane-Peter Baker's book "Morality and Ethics of War" addresses the gap between personal moral frameworks and the professional military ethic, arguing that bridging this gap is essential to minimize ethical risks and prevent moral injury in military forces.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In his groundbreaking work "Morality and Ethics of War," ethicist Deane-Peter Baker takes a profound and innovative approach to the study of military ethics. This comprehensive book, which features a foreword by Major General Susan Coyle, goes beyond existing treatments of military ethics to tackle a fundamental issue: the widening gap between the diverse moral frameworks that shape individual identity and the professional military ethic. Baker argues that bridging this chasm is crucial in minimizing the ethical risks that can lead to operational and strategic failure for military forces operating in today's complex conflict environment. He emphasizes the importance of bridging this gap in preventing moral injury from affecting the nation's uniformed servants.

Drawing on a revised account of what he calls "the Just War Continuum," Baker develops a comprehensive bridging framework that combines conceptual clarity and rigor with insights from cutting-edge psychological research. This framework provides military leaders with practical tools and strategies to navigate the moral complexities of military affairs.

One of the key insights of Baker's work is that the moral landscape of war is not static but dynamic, shaped by a range of factors such as technology, culture, and political context. He argues that military leaders must be adaptable and flexible in their approach to morality, able to navigate the ethical challenges posed by new and emerging threats.

Baker's bridging framework is grounded in a deep understanding of the human psyche and the psychological effects of warfare. He recognizes that soldiers are not just fighting machines but human beings with complex emotions, motivations, and vulnerabilities. By incorporating insights from psychological research, Baker offers practical strategies for managing the moral stressors of combat, such as moral decision-making, resilience, and post-traumatic stress.

In addition to providing a theoretical framework, "Morality and Ethics of War" offers practical examples and case studies from recent conflicts to illustrate the application of Baker's principles. These examples showcase the ethical dilemmas faced by military leaders and the challenges they must overcome to make morally sound decisions in the heat of battle.

Overall, "Morality and Ethics of War" is a groundbreaking work that challenges traditional perspectives on military ethics and offers a fresh and innovative approach to understanding the moral dimensions of warfare. By bridging the gap between personal identity and the professional military ethic, Baker provides military leaders with the tools they need to navigate the ethical challenges of modern warfare and ensure that their actions are consistent with their values and principles. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the ethics of war, military leadership, and the responsibility of armed forces to protect and serve humanity.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350104549