Marc LiVecche

Marc LiVecche is the McDonald Distinguished Scholar of Ethics, War, and Public Life at Providence. He is also a non-resident research fellow at the US Naval War College, in the College of Leadership and Ethics.

Marc completed doctoral studies, earning distinction, at the University of Chicago, where he worked under the supervision of the political theorist and public intellectual Jean Bethke Elshtain, until her death in August, 2013. His first book, The Good Kill: Just War & Moral Injury, was published in 2021 by Oxford University Press. Another project, Responsibility and Restraint: James Turner Johnson and the Just War Tradition, co-edited with Eric Patterson, was published by Stone Tower Press in the fall of 2020. Currently, he is finalizing Moral Horror: A Just War Defense of Hiroshima. Before all this academic stuff, Marc spent twelve years doing a variety of things in Central Europe—ranging from helping build sport and recreational leagues in post-communist communities, to working at a Christian study and research center, to leading seminars on history and ethics onsite at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp in Poland. This latter experience allowed him to continue his undergraduate study of the Shoah; a process which rendered him entirely ill-suited for pacifism.

Marc lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife and children–and a marmota monax whistlepigging under the shed. He can be followed, or stalked, on twitter @mlivecche. Additional publications can be found at his Amazon author page.

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‘Just Statecraft’ Links Just War Theory to Grand Strategy

The new term ‘just statecraft’ is complementary to the broader Just War Theory framework by linking it to broader elements of national strategy

Foreign Policy ProvCast, Episode 84 | Peter Berkowitz on Liberal Education, Progressive Ideology, and the Israel-Hamas War

Marc LiVecche joins Providence contributor Keith Pavlischek and the Hoover Institution’s Peter Berkowitz on a wide-ranging exploration of Israel’s war against Hamas and adjacent themes.

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The End of Auschwitz

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is a good day to remember that some fights have to be fought.

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Gratitude and Preparation

Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize and reflect upon the fact that we are a free people because men women have willingly stood on freedom’s wall and fought and killed and risked death to keep us safe

Foreign Policy ProvCast Episode 83 | Reflections One Year After Oct. 7, 2023

Providence editors Marc LiVecche and Robert Nicholson reflect on the legacy of October 7th, 2023, one year later

Trump and Harris on Israel and Ukraine
Weekend Read: Trump and Harris Failed to Aim at Victory

At Tuesday’s debate, Trump and Harris failed to champion Ukrainian and Israeli victories, respectively. That’s a problem.

Foreign Policy ProvCast, Episode 82 | On Tim Walz, Military Ethos, and Service Before Self

Marc LiVecche, Keith Pavlischek, and Mackubin Owens discuss VP nominee Tim Walz’s (mis)representation of his military service

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A Good Week for Israel (Or: How to Think About the Death of the Wicked)

Israel has struck down a number of high-profile enemies this week. What should Christians think about targeted killing and the deaths of our enemies?

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Particularity, Universality, & How Olympic Values Have Gone a Stinker

The Olympic games have always been about going higher, moving faster, and being stronger than those around you. We used to know this. Let us never forget it.

The Madness of Ceasefire

One definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome. Continued demands that Israel stand-down are insane.