Through an examination of the relationship between ethics and international coercion, "The Sword of Justice" compares the actual practice of the United States to the standards established by the just war framework. Historical cases are considered--from nuclear deterrence, conventional war and humanitarian intervention to covert action, economic sanctions and coercive diplomacy--analyzed from the perspective of the just war tradition to provide practical tools to improve the moral content of policy decisions.

An enduring feature of the international system is the use or threat of force....