Jus Post Bellum

Jus post bellum (Latin for "Justice after War"; see also Just War Theory) deals with the termination phase of war. The idea was written about by Brian Orend to reflect the need for rules to end wars completely and fairly.

Purpose

Provide assurances to combatants about the terms necessary to end a conflict
Provide terms for the end of war; once the rights of a political community have been vindicated, further continuation of war becomes an act of aggression
Provide guidelines for the construction of peace treaties
Prevent continuous fighting throughout peace negotiations by belligerents to gain more favorable terms.
Prevent draconian and vengeful peace terms; the rights a just state fights for in a war provide the constraints on what can be demanded from the defeated belligerent

Just Settlement of a Just War

The following is a list of items that would be permissible for a just settlement for a just war:

Unjust gains from aggression must be eliminated
Punishment against the aggressor in two forms:
- Compensation to the victim for losses incurred
- War crime trials for the aggressor
Security for the victim against future attack in the form of demilitarization or political rehabilitation
Terms for settlement should be measured and reasonable ruling out unconditional surrenders
Terms for settlement should be made public
Leaders, soldiers, and civilians must be distinguished
- Leaders must the aggressor must face fair and public war crime trials, if necessary
- Soldiers from all sides of the conflict must be held accountable for war crimes
- Civilians must be reasonably immune from punitive measures ruling out sweeping socioeconomic sanctions