Nicole Robinson

Presenting ideas on the war in Iraq and the Just War Theory, a UW-Superior guest professor spoke to an overflowing lecture hall Thursday evening.

Richard Hudelson, associate professor of philosophy, gave a presentation sponsored by the Society of Politics (SOPS), in conjunction with the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies.

The Just War Theory Hudelson primarily spoke about explains factors that would make war justified in people’s eyes.

“War is not a just war if war is only to plunder your neighbor,” Hudelson said. “If war is to simply seize an oil field, that would not be a just war.”

Above all else, Hudelson said, a just war must be a defensive war. More recent considerations to the theory are that it may be to attack evil, change a regime or carry out humanitarian efforts.

“The Just War Theory does allow for a preemptive attack as was done in Iraq,” Hudelson said. “For preemption to be just, the theory calls for an attack to be an imminent threat, which Iraq was not.”

Senior Tracy Arendt, who attended the discussion, said she didn’t know much about Iraq and that Hudelson had clear points. She added that she had no idea a model such as the Just War Theory existed.

“It is comforting to know that there is such a theory,” Arendt said. “From the material presented, though, it doesn’t really seem like we are following the Just Theory with Iraq.”

Hudelson’s discussion moved on to broader ideas pertaining to the war in Iraq and how he feels we could be getting ourselves into trouble with foreign policy.

Ali Abootalebi, assistant professor of political science, said issues such as the Just War Theory are important to discuss, but the presentation was more a philosophical approach.

“Unfortunately, (the Just War Theory) does not confound politics and religion or the interplay between culture and politics,” he said.

Hudelson’s speech in Eau Claire was the result of a writing contest SOPS president, junior John Zanetti, won for the Wisconsin Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.

After winning, Zanetti said he was asked to be a student representative for the institute, and as a benefit to the university, it’s able to host speakers.

“We live in a world of punditry,” he said. “We are usually told what to think, and it is refreshing to have an original mind and to (have speakers) provide the framework for how to think.”