Justification of expansionism?

[dominikus28]

I understand that the Catholic Church has just war theory. What I was wondering is how this was actually put in practice during the history of Europe. Were most wars that happened justified by Just War theory?

I know that Charlemegne expanded his empire quite a bit - was he justified in invading barbarian and other tribes? Is it a valid reason to say that he was ‘bringing them culture and civilization, even if they didnt like it’?

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

I understand that the Catholic Church has just war theory. What I was wondering is how this was actually put in practice during the history of Europe. Were most wars that happened justified by Just War theory?

I know that Charlemegne expanded his empire quite a bit - was he justified in invading barbarian and other tribes? Is it a valid reason to say that he was ‘bringing them culture and civilization, even if they didnt like it’?

What about the westward expansion of the US? Certainly the colonizers were protestant instead of Catholic, but it is an analogous situation.

I like how the Eagles song puts it: “We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds, in the name of destiny and in the name of God”