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Just War Doctrine
In the first world war, a moralistic view of the conflict perpetuated it and hindered negotiations, especially after the US got involved. The insistence on justice and moral superiority made it difficult to seek compromise with the central powers. This highlights the problem of claiming moral victory in a war, as it requires absolute surrender from the other side. Just war doctrine, on the other hand, focuses on questioning the conditions for justified war and considering means and ends. It recognizes the importance of limits and constraints in pursuing objectives. While defending oneself or fulfilling alliance obligations are straightforward justifications, fighting for abstract concepts like human rights or self-determination becomes more complex and can lead to endless violence.