This work investigates whether the moral legitimacy of war can be grounded in a contractarian framework, specifically examining the consent and agreements between combatants. The authors, Yitzhak Benbaji and Daniel Statman, utilize analytical philosophy to challenge traditional just war theory. They propose a model where the rules of engagement are derived from hypothetical or actual agreements among participants, shifting the focus from objective moral status to the contractual obligations of those involved in armed conflict.

Scholars in political philosophy frequently cite this text for its rigorous application of contractarian logic to the complex moral landscape of modern warfare. Experts note that the prose is dense and intended for an academic audience familiar with contemporary ethical discourse.