When is war justified?

Answer 1

War can be justified when:

• The cause of war is just i.e freedom or equality.
• Not going to war would cause more suffering than the war itself.
• The war is started in self defense
• War would protect the lives of many civilians i.e the UK fighting in Afghanistan will help prevent terrorist attacks.
• War would prevent a much larger scale war.
• It stops inhuman behaviour and enforces international agreements
• Countries and colonies are wrongly oppressed.
• The negative effect of war is smaller than the effect of NOT going to war.

Answer 2

In the event of defending the country or yourself. This is of course after trying to avoid it peacefully.