Transcript Just War

Humanitarian Intervention
and
International Society
Jennifer M. Welsh
Alexandra Crãciun
Debate: sovereignty principle vs. new int’l norms
on use of force for humanitarian purposes
 Simon Chesterman – Just War or Just
Peace?Humanitarian Intervention and International Law
 legal issues; against right to humanitarian intervention
• Nicholas J. Wheeler – Saving Strangers:Humanitarian
Intervention in International Society
 different view on state practice (justification); new norms that
legitimate humanitarian intervention since Cold War
• International Commission on Intervention and State
Sovereignty report
 attempt to reconcile nonintervention w/ respect for human rights;
offers guidelines for responding, preventing, rebuilding
From legal Q to ethical dilemmas
Just War or Just Peace
- background 1999 Kosovo bombings
I argument
- Origins of humanitarian intervention: justice of war >imoral
enemy(H.Grotius); pr. of nonintervention as sovereignty
component; moral, religious differences vs. legal restraints
btw equal states society
- Modern doctrine of nonintervention connected to positivism in
int’l law, replaced the Grotianist theory; intervention to be
used only in civil wars (clear separation btw ppl-sovereign);
League of Nations + Briand-Kellogg – peaceful means
Article 2
 1. The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign
equality of all its Members.
 3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by
peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and
security, and justice, are not endangered.
 4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations
from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity
or political independence of any state, or in any other manner
inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
 7. Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize
the United Nations to intervene in matters which are
essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or
shall require the Members to submit such matters to
settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall
not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under
Chapter VII.
II argument
- Loophole in Art 2(4) would permit use of force because
Hum Intv > Charter if only violates territory and Hum Intrv
respects Art 1 (3) [3. To achieve international co-operation in
solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or
humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for
human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction
as to race, sex, language, or religion;]
- SC: humanitarianism + democracy cannot be counted as
exceptions giving sole authority to UN Security Council
- SC: shows danger of promoting custom>treaty
(controversial from the point of view of Vienna Conv)
- SC doesn’t see a clear notion of HI, but if recognized this
HI right would be missused under disguise of
humanitarianship => weaken int’l law
II argument (cont’d)
- last 10 yrs: increase in UN authorized intervention
missions – in support of new customary rights
- 2 cases on intv: =>w/ consent of host to have foreign
troops (HI violation is not a valid justification for intv
yet, but int’l stability threatened by these violations)
=>more problems after intv, when need
to rebuild raises Q of legitimacy of international
bodies
- there are moral concerns for both cases
Ethical Dimension
 ICISS: sovereignty and nonintervention also protect
people and societies [China has seen the Kosovo
situation one that might legitimate the right to change
political systems + indepedant ways for development]
 Consequences of intv can be overwhelming:
Too many variables, outcome might compromise national
interest, new opposition with unmet expectations,
hostility from other similar governments
2. Use of force => chaos, moral obligation to prevent war >
human rights violation
3. Mutual tolerance of differences (political, social cultural
values not homogenous)
1.
Sovereignty as Responsability
Nicholas Wheeler & ICISS:
- background: events in Rwanda; ICISS response to Kofi Annan
- Legal + moral objections on HI; consensus on
legitimate cases of HI
- ICISS report: had to promote debate on HI; to create
new global political consensus on how to proceed; find
new way to reconcile sovereignty w/ HI; the shift from
“right to intervene” to “responsability to protect”
shows focus on requirements of need + assistance
- N Wheeler work: on solidarist side of international
society; agrees with constructivism (new norms enable
new practices of development); HI is the only
legitimate exception to nonintv and use of force
Sovereignty as Responsability cont’d
 New HI norm = to be used when all diplomatic actions
fail, as measure to protect the people
 Sovereignty as responsability = conditional, state has
to respect minimal standard of human rights
=>can be applied when a commnunity fragments,
cometing actors cause unrest, case of extreme
humanitarian emergency
=> Number of lives lost are outnumbered by saved ones;
“simpathy”and “empathy” offered to political leaders
Arguments for consequentialist objections:
- Which ones: short or long term?
- National interest vs new sources of instability
- Adjusting to intrastate conflicts
- Individual rights vs collective rights similar among
many nations
- Sovereignty should not be protected at whatever cost
- Use of force ≠ law + morality are not operational
anylonger
Establishing Criteria
Just War. Criteria for HI/ responsability to protect:
N. Wheeler: 1.just cause
2. last resort
3. proportional use of force
4. high probability to achive Hum. outcome
ICISS: 1. right cause
2. right intention *
3. right authority *
4. last resort
5. proportionate means
6. reasonable prospects
**ICISS complicates the matters or make them more accurate?
Challenges for Just War Concepts:
 Unknown reactions
 Threshold conditions = political
 New politics
 New technological realities