Thomas Aquinas was the first to outline criteria for a “just war,” and Christians as well as non-Christians have struggled with the concept ever since. Farrell, library director at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, launches this new research in religion series with an annotated bibliography of key clerical and lay works on this subject published between 1900 and 2012. Annotations are organized in sections covering the topic in general, in history, and with regard to particular wars (including the second Iraq war), international law, pacifism, realism, nuclear war and weapons, and more. An author/terms index is provided. VERDICT A catholic overview of an ongoing religious and ethical discussion. Recommended.

Library Journal

While theological concepts may be theoretical and abstract to most people, they occasionally deal with issues that touch upon the average person. One such topic is the Just War Theory as in Modern Just War Theory: A Guide to Research, written by scholar and librarian Michael Farrell as part of the Illuminations: Guides to Research in Religion series. This work will appeal to 'students and scholars of theology, military history, international law, and Christian ethics.' The book is solid and well done. Examples are provided and terms are clearly defined. Chapters include research on topics ranging from History to International Law to Realism to Pacifism to Non-Christian Religious traditions. From the early days of the Romans to the early days of Christianity, where this topic was systematically explored and developed by great scholars like Saint Augustine of Hippo in the City of God and Saint Thomas Aquinas, many scholars of have addressed 'the challenges from competing ideologies as well as these presented by the changing nature of warfare.' Most of the more influential literature was written by twentieth and twenty-first century authors and scholars. Farrell not only gives a brief overview of the theorists, but discusses the key terminology and surveys and evaluates key primary and secondary sources for researchers. This title will be a valuable addition to larger academic libraries.

American Reference Books Annual