Just War and Terrorism: A New Policy Perspective

The idea of terrorism as policy in any policy discussion is abhorrent in most academic circles. The fact is, however, if one removes the emotion attached to the use of terrorism and approaches it as a tool it can be placed in several models used by policymakers today. For many centuries the concept of “just war” has been discussed by philosophers, policymakers, and warriors. When standards have been established that those engaged in conflict can use to determine whether or not an action is considered “just.” How did Christianity in particular move from emphasizing love (agapē, caritas) to the acceptance of waging war? This problem was dealt with when the law of war was included in discussion of natural law theory.     

George W. Bush's War on Terrorism and Sin

Abstract

In George W. Bush's inaugural address, informed by ‘compassionate conservatism’, there was a tension between two familiar goals in US political discourse: conserving the status quo and changing the world for the better by cleansing it of sin. In Bush's discursive construction of the war on terrorism, ‘compassionate conservatism’ and the construction of sin were folded into a unified discourse, with the emphasis on preventing dangerous change rather than creating positive change. A static state of safety, constantly protected by ‘compassionate conservatism’ and war, is now offered by American conservatives as the most viable and most patriotic way to stave off the forces of sin.     

20世纪中国史学界对历史学性质的理论思考

历史学是否是科学的问题,在西方已讨论了200多年,在中国也争论了将近一个世纪。近代,由于自然科学的迅速发展,西方史学家提出,如果采用适当的方法去研究历史,就有希望得到科学的结果。20世纪初,中国新史学兴起。史学家们大量引进西方的史学理论,关于历史学与自然科学的关系、历史学能否成为科学的问题也引起史学界的极大兴趣。有人认为历史学是一门科学,或可以成为一门科学。有人认为历史学不是科学,而是艺术或其他学问。还有人认为历史学既是科学,也是艺术。