A decade of conflict not clearly aligned to vital national interests combined with recent acts of selective conscientious objection by members of the military have led some to reappraise the distinction between absolute and selective conscious objection, and argue that selective conscientious objection ought to be legally recognised and permitted. Political, social and philosophical factors lie behind this new interest, which together mean that the time is ripe for a fresh and thorough evaluation of the topic. This book brings together arguments for and against selective conscientious objection, as well as case studies examining how different countries deal with those who claim the status of selective conscientious objectors.

Andrea Ellner, Paul Robinson David Whetham

Foreword, Jeff McMahan; 'Sometime they'll give a war and nobody will come', Andrea Ellner, Paul Robinson, David Whetham; Part I Arguments For and Against Accepting Selective Conscientious Objection; Chapter 1 The Duty of Diligence: Knowledge, Responsibility, and Selective Conscientious Objection, Brian Imiola; Chapter 2 There is No Real Moral Obligation to Obey Orders: Escaping from 'Low Cost Deontology', Emmanuel R. Goffi; Chapter 3 Selective Conscientious Objection: A Violation of the Social Contract, Melissa Bergeron; Chapter 4 Who Guards the Guards? The Importance of Civilian Control of the Military, David Fisher; Chapter 5 An Empirical Defense of Combatant Moral Equality, Michael Skerker; Chapter 6 Selective Conscientious Objection and the Just Society, Dan Zupan; Part II Case Studies in Selective Conscientious Objection; Chapter 7 Selective Conscientious Objection in Australia, Stephen Coleman, Nikki Coleman, Richard Adams; Chapter 8 Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Britain, Stephen Deakin; Chapter 9 Selective Conscientious Objection: Philosophical and Conceptual Doubts in Light of Israeli Case Law, Yossi Nehushtan; Chapter 10 Claims for Refugee Protection in Canada by Selective Objectors: An Evolving Jurisprudence, Yves Le Bouthillier; Chapter 11 Conscience in Lieu of Obedience: Cases of Selective Conscientious Objection in the German Bundeswehr, Jürgen Rose; Part III Conclusions; Chapter 12 Selective Conscientious Objection: Some Guidelines for Implementation, J. Carl Ficarrotta; Chapter 13 War Resisters in the US and Britain - Supporting the Case for a Right to Selective Conscientious Objection?, Andrea Ellner; Chapter 14 The Practice and Philosophy of Selective Conscientious Objection, Andrea Ellner, Paul Robinson, David Whetham;