First Strike

"Totten's book carefully examines the contours of thinking about preemption and prevention in international law, political philosophy, and just war tradition, driving toward adapting the existing standards to confront present-day threats. In breadth and depth this study is unmatched, providing a benchmark for contemporary thinking about when it is justified to strike the first blow in a conflict."—James Turner Johnson, author of Morality and Contemporary Warfare

~James Turner Johnson

"Mark Totten does two things in this book: first, he provides a wonderfully learned account of the argument about pre-emption and prevention in just war theory. And then he makes a strong argument of his own for revising the standard doctrine. Theorists should pay attention; statesmen and generals, too."—Michael Walzer, Institute for Advanced Study

~Michael Walzer

"Mark Totten addresses one of the most pressing questions of the day: When, if ever, can America's moral tradition support striking first against suspected terrorists or other enemies who are not on the verge of attacking this country? First Strike is a brilliant and engaging book full of deep insights into U.S. history, the just war tradition and its favorable reception in the United States, and recent national security challenges."—John E. Noyes, Roger J. Traynor Professor of Law, California Western School of Law

~John E. Noyes