What significance does "ethics" have for the men and women serving in
the military forces of nations around the world? What core values and
moral principles collectively guide the members of this "military
profession?"
This book explains these essential moral foundations, along with "just
war theory," international relations, and international law. The ethical
foundations that define the "Profession of Arms" have developed over
millennia from the shared moral values, unique role responsibilities,
and occasional reflection by individual members the profession on their
own practices - eventually coming to serve as the basis for the "Law of
Armed Conflict" itself.
This book focuses upon the ordinary men and women around the world who
wear a military uniform and are committed to the defense of their
countries and their fellow citizens. It is about what they do, how they
do it, what they think about it, how they behave when carrying out their
activities, and how they are expected to behave, both on and off the
battlefield (whether in, or out of, uniform) - and what everyone (and
not just military personnel themselves) needs to know about this.
The book also examines how military personnel are treated and regarded
by those whom they have sworn to defend and protect, as well as how they
treat and regard one another within their respective services and
organizational settings. Finally, the book discusses the transformations
in military professionalism occasioned by new developments in armed
conflict, ranging counterinsurgency warfare and humanitarian military
intervention, to cyber conflict, military robotics, and private military
contracting. From China to Russia, author George Lucas effectively sheds
light on today's military ethics in existence throughout the world.
What Everyone Needs to Know(R) is a registered trademark of Oxford
University Press.
