10.1 Concept and Evolution of Humanitarian Intervention

Humanitarian intervention involves military action to protect civilians from mass atrocities. It's guided by principles like right intention and last resort. The Responsibility to Protect doctrine, adopted by the UN in 2005, outlines steps to prevent, react to, and rebuild after crises.

Legal bases for intervention include UN Charter Chapter VII and evolving international norms. Moral arguments stem from universal human rights and global responsibility. Challenges include sovereignty concerns, selectivity accusations, and unintended consequences. Alternatives like diplomacy and sanctions offer non-military options.

Understanding Humanitarian Intervention

Definition of humanitarian intervention

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• Military force used by states in another state's territory to protect civilians from mass atrocities or human rights violations (Rwanda genocide, Kosovo conflict)
• Key principles guide interventions:
  • Right intention prioritizes halting human suffering over political or economic gain
  • Last resort exhausts diplomatic and economic measures before military action
  • Proportional means match intervention scale to threat level (air strikes vs ground troops)
  • Reasonable prospects assess likelihood of success in stopping suffering
• Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine adopted by UN in 2005 outlines three pillars: prevent atrocities, react to crises, rebuild post-conflict

Historical development of humanitarian intervention

• 19th century saw early examples during Greek War of Independence and against Ottoman Empire
• UN Charter in 1945 created tension between state sovereignty and human rights protection
• Cold War limited interventions due to superpower rivalry with exceptions (Vietnam in Cambodia 1978)
• Post-Cold War era increased frequency (Somalia 1992, Bosnia 1995, Kosovo 1999)
• 21st century saw controversial interventions in Afghanistan 2001 and Libya 2011
• Ongoing debates surround potential intervention in Syria and other conflict zones

Legal and Moral Aspects of Humanitarian Intervention

Justifications for humanitarian intervention

• Legal bases include:
  • UN Charter Chapter VII authorizes Security Council to use force
  • Customary international law evolves norms on civilian protection
  • Treaties like Genocide Convention and Geneva Conventions provide framework
• Moral arguments stem from:
  • Universal human rights transcend borders and demand protection
  • Cosmopolitan ethics emphasize global responsibility to all individuals
  • Just War Theory principles of right intention and just cause apply
• Emerging norm of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) frames sovereignty as responsibility and international duty to act

Challenges of humanitarian intervention

• Sovereignty concerns risk undermining international order and state autonomy
• Selectivity accusations highlight inconsistent application and national interest influence
• Unintended consequences may escalate conflicts or disrupt local political dynamics
• Legitimacy debates question necessity of UN Security Council approval for action
• Operational challenges include achieving objectives and risks to intervening forces
• Post-intervention responsibilities involve complex reconstruction and exit strategies
• Alternatives like diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions offer non-military options