Term Paper on "Humanitarian Intervention"

Term Paper 4 pages (1127 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Where a plurality of powerful nations determines intervention must proceed, it usually proceeds iii. The window for MI is necessarily short, followed by a much larger window or HI

iv. The military intervention would be pointless if HI did not extend that same agenda; conflict could be renewed.

v. HI therefore provides an opportunity to reshape the country to meet the needs of powerful stats.

VII. Counterargument

a. Nations are not all governed by realism

i. Some nations, especially those in Europe, adopt a more constructivist approach, wherein they genuinely believe that they can affect positive change in the world.

ii. This approach would bring about a more altruistic approach to HI, and some countries do engage in HI for this reason.

iii. NGOs frequently engage in HI

b. Neoliberalism is oriented towards fostering links between nations, in order to create a more prosperous, peaceful world.

i. MI is a necessarily evil for neoliberalism; HI is viewed favorably

ii. Neoliberal institutions are often heavily involved in HI, including the UN, World Bank and others

c. It is not necessarily the case that all HI is governed by the interests of powerful nations.

VIII. Rebuttal

a. It is accepted that realist ambitions are in part at work in HI

b. What is not accepted is that this is the sum total of HI. Even when a realist actor becomes involved, they may do so through their involvement in the neoliberal system, or as part of building a better world.

i. Actors cannot be typecast, and motivations should not be assumed

c. HI is costly, therefore there is no genuine interest in such intervention.

ii. As an example, the American reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan have generally not resulted in stable governments in those countries, let alone enhanced U.S. wealth from their assets.

VIII. Conclusions

a. HI is typically an expression of the interests of powerful states.

i. It does not need to be, in principle, but in practice it is.

b. HI naturally flows from MI

i. Where HI does not follow MI the HI tends to be much smaller

ii. The West intervenes where there are geopolitical or economic gains to be made.

iii. This reflects the realist worldview of the world as a zero-sum game

c. Where HI follows MI, it is an extension of MI

i. The same actors are usually involved

ii. The HI is structure to rebuild the country to meet the needs of those major actors iii. The HI also helps to avoid other interests moving into the power vacuum created by the initial conflict

d. While it is possible to have altruistic HI, it is unusual.

i. Most HI is not altruistic but an extension of realist power

ii. Strategic conflict zones receive disproportionate MI and HI

iii. It is hard to argue that HI is not an extension of Western power because the West conducts most HI and does so disproportionally in strategic areas.

References

Auteserre, S. (2009). Hobbes and the Congo: Frames, local violence and international intervention. International Organization. Vol. 63 (2009) 249-280.

Carr, E. (1956). Realism and idealism. The Twenty Years' Crisis. Macmillan Ltd.

Evans, G. & Sahnoun, M. (2002). The responsibility to protect. Foreign Affairs. Vol. 81 (6) 99-110.

Goldstein, J. (2011). Think again: War. Foreign Policy.

The Nation. (2011). The new humanitarian order.… READ MORE

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