Ifpacifistsarecorrectinthinkingthatwarisalwaysunjust,thenitfollowsthatweoughttoeliminatethepossibilityandtemptationofeverengaginginit;weshouldnotbuildwar-makingcapacity,andifwealreadyhave,thendemilitarization--ormilitaryabolition--wouldseemtobetheappropriatecoursetotake.Ontheotherhand,ifwarissometimesjustified,asmanybelieve,thenitmustbepermissibletoprepareforitbycreatingandmaintainingamilitaryestablishment.Yetthisviewthatthejustifiabilityofwar-makingisalsosufficienttojustifywar-buildingismistaken.Thisbookaddressesquestionsofjusantebellum,orjusticebeforewar.Underwhatcircumstancesisitjustifiableforapolitytoprepareforwarbymilitarizing?When(ifever)andwhy(ifatall)isitmorallypermissibletocreateandmaintainthepotentialtowagewar?Indoingsoithighlightsthewaysinwhichacivilianpopulationcompromisesitsownsecurityinmaintainingapermanentmilitaryestablishment,exploresthemoralandsocialcostsofmilitarization,andevaluateswhetherornotthesecostsareworthbearing.
