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The Violence of Peace: America's Wars in the Age of Obama Hardcover – Bargain Price, January 11, 2011

by Stephen Carter (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 10 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Beast Books (January 11, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0984295178
  • ASIN: B0055X6M9A
  • Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,945,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThoughtful Assessment of U.S. War Policies
By Eric F. Facer on February 6, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Initially, I was not inclined to purchase this book. Its subtitle suggested a range of focus far too narrow ("America's Wars in the Age of Obama"). And since the author is a liberal Ivy League law school professor (yes, I know that description is redundant in the extreme), I figured this would be another paean to "hope and change" or a polemical indictment of Bush's war policies. But I was wrong.

First, the scope of the book is far greater than Obama's conduct of the three ongoing American conflicts: the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, and the War on Terror. Yes, Professor Carter does dissect the President's military policies but he does so in the broader context of U.S. foreign policy, drawing upon useful historical parallels and analyzing the views of many of the right's best thinkers (e.g., Judge Posner) as well as those from the left (Jean Bethke Elshtain).

Second, considering the author's own liberal predilections, the book is quite balanced and unfailingly analytical. Carter defends his thesis--that the similarities between Bush and Obama war policies are far greater than the differences (though the subtle differences are important)--convincingly. Further, he bends over backwards to give the Bush Administration a fair hearing. Indeed, I thought he was too kind in his willingness to give Bush the benefit of the doubt on his administration's faith in the intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. But, as he adroitly notes, even if Saddam had possessed WMDs, that, standing alone, was not justification for the invasion since there was no indication that Iraq intended to use whatever weapons it did possess against us or our allies.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsGreat Potential, Weak Follow-Through
By K. E. Moore on June 8, 2011
Format: Hardcover
I actually didn't purchase this book but, seeing it in my local library, I scooped it up because the dust cover hinted at a professor (who happened to be unknown to me) approaching the war policies of Obama in a fresh and different way. Given his subject, and the inordinate time he spends discussing just war theory and the obligations laid on America by her superpower status, I regret that this book was written before our involvement in Libya; I think that, much more than Afghanistan and Iraq, Libya would have provided great grist for Carter's mill.

I regret that, in all of his arguments (and they were very intellectually honest and thoughtful), Carter doesn't actually answer the fundamental question of WHY just war theory is a superior way to analyze the decision to go to war or why being a superpower obligates America to be the designated war-maker when there is a moral cause.
The question of why just war theory is appropriate is very important because it is both novel (war has almost never been altruistic) and inappropriate on the surface. Nations that go to war to be morally good have historically never looked back on the action with pride and satisfaction; whether it was the numerous Crusades (only the first of which was successful) to free a Christian holy place from Islam, England intervening in both world wars because Germany's leadership was (in their view) morally bankrupt, or America stepping into many conflicts (Cuba, World War I, Korea, Vietnam), nations invariably look back on the triumph of moral goodness over national self-interest with sorrow. Because this is the case, Carter needed to justify treating moral goodness as the best cause for the resort to war; he did not do so.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsAnalytical review of Obama's War Views
By jim halas on May 1, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Carter does a thorough review of Obama's views on war using Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech as a starting point. The book is organized into 4 sections: the concept of a just war, the just conduct of war, the defense of strangers meaning non-national defense wars and recognition of the US political discussion about war and its conduct.

While Carter's approach is logically analytic, he is an apologist for Obama's approach after taking office. He contrasts Obama's actions as President and his words as the Peace Candidate. He acknowledges that Obama's approach has been to ramp up the violence over the George W. Bush approach but provides justification and reasoning for doing so. In the first chapter Carter repeatedly references to the writings of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas plus Catholic Theological thinking. He summarizes a Just War as containing elements of a just cause, last resort, legitimate authority, reasonable hope of success, proportionaltiy and discrimination. Carter then elaborates on the meaning of each and provides examples.

In Chapter 2 Carter acknowledges Obama's about face on the violent conduct of war and compares ideas on just conduct in war with Obama's choices. He seeks to answer the question of why have Obama's choices differed from his pre-election words. Examples include pre- and post election Obama on rendition, remote missle strikes and secret military operations. Carter gives us the summary justifications "..the President and his senior staff were 'stunned' by the threats spread before them at their first postelection briefings on national security." And "No Peace Candidate has ever become a Peace President.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA Worthwhile Read

Great writer, hubby quoted some of Dr. Carter's lines in a speech. We have read several of his books and other writing--very interesting! Read more

Published 12 months ago by Reecia Thompson Stoglin
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Amazing book, well written and help understand international policies

Published 12 months ago by FRANCOIS NGUETTA
5.0 out of 5 starsLOVE this book

This is an exceptionally articulate and thoughtful meditation on exactly what the title implies. As others have stated, if you want a book that will make you think, read this. Read more

Published on September 6, 2013 by Jen Edwards
4.0 out of 5 starsThis Book Will Make You Think

When Stephen L. Carter writes, every word matters.

The Violence of Peace dissects President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech to determine his theory of... Read more

Published on May 16, 2012 by Julie L. Brown
5.0 out of 5 starsmind expanding

Amazing analysis of our stance on just and non just wars. Done with detachment and in a way that is non partisan.

Published on July 18, 2011 by S. Schmidt
5.0 out of 5 starsCalculus v. Ethics...of War

Excepting its length, this work is actually a fairly tough read au currant...but certainly full of mediate and critical details. Read more

Published on July 5, 2011 by K. Stone
4.0 out of 5 starsWhen we fought, why we fight

Another important philosophical work on why we fight wars, what he criteria ought to be. Should be read by all especially quick draw warhawks. Read more

Published on June 8, 2011 by Richard Rivale

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