If war is the answer, what is the question? A genealogy of ideas in the Greek Just War tradition

Kaloudiotis, Theodoros (2025) If war is the answer, what is the question? A genealogy of ideas in the Greek Just War tradition. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Just War theories are shaped by distinct cultures, collective mentalities, and historical developments. However, the existing International Relations literature on Just Wars has not effectively integrated the role of ideas in how actions acquire meaning and legitimacy. Even within the literature on the Just War tradition, there has been a predominant focus on the evolution of Roman ‘Ciceronian’ concepts through the Western medieval system, which became ingrained in Western thought as part of the collective mentalities and experiences of recent centuries.

My study tried to address this gap by examining the genealogy of the Greek Just War tradition. The central question of my research is: how did the concept of Just War develop within Greek thought from antiquity to the establishment of an independent Greek state in the 19th century, and can we trace a distinct (Greek) Just War tradition shaped by unique collective experiences, norms, and ideas? References to the Greeks are not ethnological; they refer to the Mediterranean culture centred on the Greek language, concepts, and way of life, which leads to a precise analysis on ideas and practices that construct Just War mentalities. My study demonstrated that the origins of Western Just War traditions can be traced back to Ancient Greek thought and examined how these ideas contributed to the Greco-Roman and Christian synthesis. I explored how Christianity, alongside factors such as geopolitical circumstances, interactions with other cultures, and pre-existing ideas and norms, shaped Eastern Roman practices and created a distinct normative environment, i.e., a different Just War tradition. This environment influenced the evolution of Modern Greek thought, particularly among the Greek diaspora, during the Greek War of Independence, and in the social constructions that legitimised armed conflict as a core element of Greek identity and future Greek security discourses on various domains.

Analysing Just War traditions as part of the evolution of ideas across different cultures is both methodologically and ontologically significant. Such an approach enables a deeper understanding of how communities justify warfare, how ideas give meaning to action, and ultimately challenges the positivist view prevalent in modern International Relations, which often treats war merely as a strategic manoeuvre in the game of international politics, rather than as a reflection of diverse cultures. In a globalised interdependent world, the understanding of how warfare is an extension of different communities’ mentality and how ideas legitimise practice is crucial for any aim to improve security discourses, multilateral strategy, and crisis management.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Smith, Professor Craig and Omissi, Dr. Adrastos
• Date of Award: 2025
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2025-85261
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 26 Jun 2025 13:59
• Last Modified: 26 Jun 2025 14:02
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.85261
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/85261