Sui limiti morali della guerra : Il principio di proporzionalità in guerra : Una cauta difesa

This article examines the moral limits of warfare through the lens of just war theory and international law. The first part addresses symmetric wars between states, focusing on the principles of discrimination and proportionality as articulated in the Geneva Conventions and Protocol I. It analyzes the philosophical basis for the prohibition on intentionally targeting civilians and the difficulties of applying this norm in practice. The second part considers asymmetric conflicts in which one party systematically disregards these principles. It asks whether, in conditions of “supreme emergency” – where a population faces existential threat – the moral force of discrimination and proportionality is preserved or must be reconsidered. By engaging with these questions, the article confronts core ethical and legal dilemmas in modern warfare, assessing the limits of just war theory in an evolving global landscape.