This work investigates how the Christian just war tradition can be re-integrated with Augustinian political thought to provide a coherent framework for the ethical use of force. Joseph E. Capizzi, a scholar of moral theology and political ethics, argues that the primary objective of war must be the establishment of peace as ordered justice. By centering the concept of 'right intention' within this political context, the author provides a systematic method for evaluating the legitimacy of conflict and the moral obligations of governing authorities.

Scholars and theologians frequently cite this text as a rigorous contribution to the contemporary discourse on Christian political ethics. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of Augustinian theology and political theory to fully grasp the author's arguments.