In Critica della ragione bellica, Professor of Philosophy of Law at the University of Pisa, Tommaso Greco, challenges the deeply rooted Western assumption that war is the natural state of humanity and that peace is an exception, a fragile ideal almost contrary to human nature.
Building on this critique, the author develops an alternative perspective grounded in what he calls ‘legal pacifism’. This is not a utopian vision, but rather a conception of peace as the original condition of human coexistence, and as a founding principle of law. In Greco’s interpretation, legal pacifism goes beyond rejecting violence. It recognises that peace already exists within the relationships, institutions, and norms that govern communal life and must therefore be preserved before war, rather than being rebuilt afterwards.
In this sense, law is not merely a set of rules designed to restrain force; it is also a space for relationships and mutual recognition. It sustains trust among individuals and between states, preventing fear and mistrust from leading to conflict. Safeguarding peace requires strengthening the institutions that make it possible, from international cooperation to a culture of dialogue and shared responsibility.
Greco draws on a tradition stretching from Kant and Kelsen to Article 11 of the Italian Constitution, which identifies law and institutions as the primary instruments of pacification. This perspective feels even more urgent today, as the author notes, in a Europe marked by rearmament and the rhetoric of ‘necessary defence’, as exemplified by the ReArm Europe plan launched after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Challenging the belief that war is inevitable and that peace can only be achieved through strength, Critica della ragione bellica calls for a radical change in perspective: “Peace,” writes Greco, “is not a distant goal, but the condition we already inhabit — one we must learn to protect.”
