In cooperation with the Institute for Political Studies of the Catholic University of Lisbon and with Universidade Católica Editora, the academic work authored by Dr. José Miguel de Carvalho-Cerqueira, entitled A Guerra Justa D´El Rei Dom Sebastião de Portugal aos Imperadores do Monomotapa, has now been published and is available for purchase.
This work, integrated within the recent studies of the Iberian School of Peace, and is based on Renaissance discernment regarding acts of war, through a specific case study. It stems from a research triggered by the discovery of a document in Paris, taken from Portugal during the Peninsular Wars.
The author revisits the classical thinkers who shaped the political philosophy behind Just War Theory, as well as the theoretical reflections of the Universities of Coimbra and Évora — part of that same school, considered a true precursor of International Law.
This book also plays an important role in understanding how the Kingdom of Portugal during renaissance historical period looked at African political entities and the rights of native peoples on that continent.
The foreword of this academic book was authored by Professor António Pedro Barbas Homem, President of the Scientific Committee of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lisbon.
SYNOPSIS
The recent studies being carried out at the University of Lisbon, known as the Iberian School of Peace, place the political thought of Portuguese universities — namely Coimbra and Évora — within the context of Renaissance theoretical discourse. These studies represent important progress in understanding Portuguese political philosophy, closely aligned with the debates in Salamanca on the natural rights of indigenous peoples.
Portugal's philosophical and academic engagement extended not only to South American natives, as seen in Spain, but also to African peoples and political entities — a unique perspective in the European context and a key pillar of this study.