Ethics, Security, and the War Machine

In most countries there is a deferential mystique about the military establishment and its vital role in guaranteeing national security. Ned Dobos's timely book is the most thorough, clear, and cogently argued philosophical critique of that mystique and its associated beliefs that I have read. * C.A.J. (Tony) Coady, University of Melbourne *
Dobos's case against a standing military establishment is the best one to date * Cecile Fabre, University of Oxford *
If the best works of philosophy challenge our commonly held ideas, then this book is one of the best of its kind. Eloquently written, powerfully argued, and original in its approach, Ned Dobos masterfully and systematically dismantles our unquestioned acceptance of the need for societies to have military establishments. A wonderful book which should be read by everyone interested in politics and international relations. * Richard Jackson, University of Otago *
Dobos shows not simply that standing armies have countervailing moral costs, but that in important respects they are self-defeating: A policy tool that has been established (at great expense) to further security and the rights of collective self-determination can itself be a major cause of insecurity, oppression, and foreign aggression. * David Rodin, University of Oxford *
Ned Dobos has written an extraordinarily comprehensive, deeply insightful, and highly readable book on the true costs of our military arrangements. I cannot think of a better book to provoke people to reflect on the ways in which war impacts our lives not always evident. * Cheyney Ryan, University of Oxford *
Dobos's argument is characteristically lucid and engaging, and the book is not only an excellent and highly welcome, but indeed a necessary addition to the current philosophical literature surrounding the ethics of war. Its profound practical, social, and political implications mean that the argument presented does not only deserve the attention of philosophers, politicians, or the military, but indeed of the average citizen. * Uwe Steinhoff, University of Hong Kong *
Costa Rica abolished its military 75 years ago, choosing to invest in human development and to build a culture of peace instead. Whether or not other states decide to follow, Dobos shows us exactly what is at stake in this important decision. His book deserves to be carefully studied in every corner of the world. * Armando Vargas Araya, Costa Rican Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand *
We certainly know more about the true costs of maintaining a military thanks to Dobos' sharp critique in Ethics, Security, and the War-Machine. * Criminal Law and Philosophy *
Ned Dobos' Ethics, Security, and the War-Machine provides a powerful and compelling account of the dangers of a standing army...excellent book and a major contribution to the literatureon pacifism, militarism, and the ethics of war. * James Pattison, Criminal Law and Philosophy *