Can Nuclear War Ever Be Just?

In a world teetering on the edge of renewed global conflict, The Just War Tradition and Nuclear Weapons in the New Cold War Era confronts the chilling reality of modern warfare with moral clarity and philosophical depth. Lawrence J. Terlizzese revisits the timeless ethical questions of war and peace, applying the classic principles of just war theory to today’s most dangerous weapons and geopolitical tensions.

From the halls of ancient Rome to the deserts of Iraq, from pacifism to proportionality, Terlizzese traces the historical, biblical, and philosophical development of the just war tradition. But this is no academic exercise. With sobering insight, he explores present threats—radical Islam, Chinese expansion, Russian aggression—and the terrifying possibility of nuclear first strikes. In a world where ideology, religion, and nationalism collide in violent upheaval, this book provides a necessary framework for Christians, statesmen, and citizens to consider when war, especially nuclear war, becomes thinkable.

Combining rigorous theological analysis with strategic realism, Terlizzese offers a balanced and compelling argument: war must always be mourned, never glorified; and if it must be waged, it must be bound by justice. Drawing from his original thesis and updated in light of 21st-century threats, this edition reminds us that peace is not passive. It must be defended—and it begins with the conscience.