katniss’ two needs - survival and safety - influence her actions throughout the books

she has negative views of the Capitol, but unlike Gale, she doesn’t act on it, doesn’t say it out loud, she has rebel beliefs but doesn’t rebel, Gale wants change and is willing to fight for it, Katniss accepts her reality and works within the system

all her “rebellious” acts do not come from defiance, they come from a need of survival or frustration - shooting the pig, hunting, volunteering, her kills in the games and even the berries

when, if ever, is war ethically and morally justified?

how can the deaths of thousands possibly be justified in the name of saving lives?

does choosing non-violence make you complicit in violence?

is an immoral revolutionary leader necessary for a revolution to have success?

what are the limits of self defence? at what point does self defence become aggression?

Just War Theory

a way to rationalise the act of violent warfare

jus ad bellum - ethical boundaries for military force

jus in bello - the actions justified when in war

3 criteria to justify

• must have a just cause (”self defence”)
• war must be declared just by a recognised official authority - the only one in Panem is the Capitol…
• war must only be waged to preserve civil order and lasting peace - oxymoron, paradox
• war should be a last resort, only when you have exhausted all other options of peaceful diplomacy

core principle on aggression - a war retaliation that stops and punishes aggression is morally justified, so long as that war doesn’t violate the rights of the agressor state

jus post bellum - justice after war, follows principles:

• proportionality - the punishment for the crimes of war must fit the crime
• respect for human rights - even those responsible for war have basic human rights that should be respected, criminals of war should not be abused and those guilty of no crime should not be punished