114. Military Ethics in the Age of Impunity: Gaza, Ukraine, and the Soldier’s Dilemma

As civilian suffering mounts in Gaza and Ukraine, the moral rules of war appear increasingly irrelevant—and yet, militaries continue to train soldiers in ethics and restraint.

In this powerful and timely conversation, Maz speaks with Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin, former Stockton Chair of Ethics at the U.S. Naval War College, and Dr. David Whetham, Professor of Ethics at King’s College London, to explore the crisis of military ethics in the face of realpolitik, information warfare, and institutional silence.

Together, they explore:

• The erosion of Jus in Bello principles: distinction, proportionality, necessity

• The limits of moral courage in authoritarian vs democratic militaries

• Why disciplined disobedience may be the last refuge of the ethical soldier

• The role and politicisation of institutions like the ICC and ICJ

• The psychological burden of moral injury and loss of trust in leadership

• The tension between values and interests in modern warfare

• Why Pauline resigned from her post—and what it tells us about the U.S. military's ethical culture

This is an unflinching look at what it means to serve with honour when the rules no longer seem to apply.

🔗 Related Episodes:

🎧 Ep. 75 – Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin on Obedience and Moral Courage 🎧 Ep. 52 – Dr. David Whetham on Ethics, War Crimes, and Military Judgement

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📚 Guest Bios:

Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin is a philosopher specialising in military ethics, the ethics of war, and the philosophy of obedience. Her most recent work, On Obedience, explores moral agency in military institutions.

Dr. David Whetham leads the Centre for Military Ethics at King’s College London and advises armed forces worldwide on professional military conduct and ethical leadership.

🎯 Tags:

military ethics, just war theory, gaza war, ukraine war, war crimes, obedience, disciplined disobedience, moral injury, international law, ICC, ICJ, Israel Hamas, Russia Ukraine, ethical warfare, realpolitik, Pauline Shanks Kaurin, David Whetham, Maz Maslic, The Voices of War

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Politics, Philosophy, Military, Society & Culture, News & Current Affairs, Ethics