1916 letter: ‘Just war’ theory a skewed one that rules out all forms of rebellion

Northern Ireland Attorney General, John Larkin, recently had a pop at the Easter Rising — the usual stuff about it failing the ‘just war’ theory test and having no democratic mandate.

One of the pre-conditions for a just war, according to just war theory, is that it must be fought by a legal recognised authority, that is, a government.

Since this effectively rules out all forms of rebellion anywhere, it’s arguable that the so-called just war theory is a skewed theory, ideal for propping up existing forms of authority without question, regardless of their colonial provenance.