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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True North, Ep. 17: Just War and Jus ad Bellum — Last Resort and Declaration
True North, Ep. 17: Just War and Jus ad Bellum — Last Resort and Declaration

In this episode of True North, Marc LiVecche and Daniel Strand continue their conversation about the just war tradition and prudential considerations. In the previous episode, they covered proportionality of ends and probability of success—viewers can see that video and transcript here. Now they take on last resort and declaration of war.

The Just War Tradition Yesterday and Today: A Panel Discussion
The Just War Tradition Yesterday and Today: A Panel Discussion

At the Christianity and National Security Conference in Washington, DC, Nigel Biggar, Daniel Strand, and Marc LiVecche participated in a panel discussion about the just war tradition. Biggar covered the tradition for today while Strand talked about Paul Ramsey’s contribution and LiVecche explained Reinhold Niebuhr’s relationship with the tradition.

Colin Powell
Powell and Decisive Good

General Colin Powell believed in the necessity of American strength and in the good of being able to win decisive victories against our enemies.

Marksism – No. 69: Colin Powell, Just War, Niebuhr and Henry Wallace
Marksism – No. 69: Colin Powell, Just War, Niebuhr and Henry Wallace

The editors discuss the legacy of Colin Powell, Marc LiVecchhe and Daniel Strand’s discussion on the just war tradition and prudential considerations, and a 75-year-old editorial where Reinhold Niebuhr turns against Henry Wallace.

True North, Ep. 16: Just War and Jus ad Bellum — Prudential Considerations
True North, Ep. 16: Just War and Jus ad Bellum — Prudential Considerations

Behind the primary jus ad bellum requirements of proper authority, just cause, and right intent are a number of prudential considerations.

Marksism – No. 68: Colin Powell, Niebuhr on USSR, Kentucky Seminaries

This week the editors discuss Colin Powell’s legacy, what Reinhold Niebuhr said about the USSR and anti-communists in 1946, and LiVecche’s trip to speak at seminaries in Kentucky.

Marc LiVecche at Asbury University on Just War and Christian Realism
Marc LiVecche at Asbury University on Just War and Christian Realism

Marc LiVecche, executive editor of Providence, spoke at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, about the just war tradition and Christian realism.

Marksism – No. 67: Mennonites, Nancy Reagan, James Bond, Gen. Milley
Marksism – No. 67: Mennonites, Nancy Reagan, James Bond, Gen. Milley

This week the editors discuss a book review of Melissa Florer-Bixler’s How to Have an Enemy, a review of James Bond films, an interview with Karen Tumulty about Nancy Reagan, and Marc Livecche’s article about Gen. Mark Milley.

forgiveness justice
Love’s Casuistry: A Case for Forgiveness

Justice and forgiveness, rightly understood, are not opposites. They are mutually reinforcing goods. We divorce them at our own peril–and our enemy’s.

Marksism – No. 66: Just War Post 9/11 and Beyond

This week the editors discuss Debra Erickson’s article about the just war tradition after 9/11.