casus belli

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Definition
  1. Noun:
    • An event or action that is used to justify a declaration of war: A specific incident or act that a nation or political entity cites as the direct, formal reason for initiating armed conflict.
Usage
  • The word "casus belli" is a formal, diplomatic, and historical term. It is used in political science, international relations, and historical analysis to discuss the stated reasons for war. It often implies a distinction between the publicly declared cause and other underlying motives.
  • It is typically used in the singular form. The plural is "casus belli" (same spelling) or the Anglicized "casus bellis."
  • In a sentence, it often follows verbs like "serve as," "provide," "become," or "cite."
Examples
  • The assassination of the archduke served as the casus belli for the First World War.
  • The government claimed the border incursion was a clear casus belli.
  • Historians debate whether the incident was a genuine casus belli or merely a pretext for a planned invasion.
Advanced Usage
  • "A casus belli": Used to describe an event that meets the threshold for justifying war under international law or a nation's own political doctrines.
    • The treaty violation was considered a sufficient casus belli by the council.
  • The concept is central to the "Just War" theory (), which examines the justifications for going to war.
Variants and Related Words
  • Pretext (n): A reason given to conceal the true reason; often used when the is believed to be false or exaggerated.
    • The attack was merely a pretext for a larger conflict.
  • Jus ad bellum (n): The body of law, ethics, and norms concerning the justification for resorting to war.
  • Provocation (n): An action or speech that makes someone angry, especially deliberately; can be a type of .
Synonyms
  • Cause for war: The direct reason for starting a war.
  • Justification for war: The grounds given for declaring war.
  • Casus foederis (n): The case or event that triggers obligations under a treaty of alliance, which may lead to a for an allied nation.
Notes on Meaning
  • The term is directly borrowed from Latin, meaning "case for war."
  • It specifically refers to the cause or trigger, as opposed to long-term, underlying causes (e.g., economic rivalry, ideological differences), which are often called "underlying causes" or "root causes."
Noun
  1. an event used to justify starting a war