International justice and the reform of globalgovernance: a reconsideration of MichaelWalzer’s international political theory

Walzer has recently updated his just war theory to take account of terrorism,humanitarian military intervention and new interpretations of the doctrine of self-defence,pre-emptive and preventative warfare The ethical considerations that underwrite Walzer’smost recent work invite us beyond the routine citation of his work to a proper considerationof the moral parameters of international politics. Beyond Just and Unjust Wars Walzer hasa wealth of insight into the key questions of international theory. His work on toleration,the nature of universality or on the role of social criticism has always been the basis of hisinsight in to the hard questions of international ethics. Despite being heavily criticised forbeing communitarian or conservative (both charges that need serious re-evaluation) Walzer’sideas offer a real alternative to the dominant neo-Kantian cosmopolitan tradition and aworkable ethical framework for thinking about the challenges of contemporary internationalpolitics and international law. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the final essay ofArguing About War. The essay, entitled ‘Governing the Globe’ offers a radical vision of areformed international society inspired by the principles that underpin Walzer’s developmentof his just war theory and it is vital that we take notice