Preparing for war Quote by David Oderberg
“A state may launch a pre-emptive strike if it has very good reason for thinking that another state is preparing for war.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Ethics and International Relations, 2005
A state may justify a pre‑emptive strike when it has strong evidence another state is preparing for war.
In simple terms: Pre‑emptive strike allowed with convincing evidence of imminent threat.
Assess threats carefully before acting.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- military planning
- diplomatic negotiations
- intelligence analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence is sufficient for pre‑emptive action?
- How to balance security and aggression?
Risk of misinterpreting intentions leading to unnecessary conflict.