Humanitarian interventions have occurred throughout history. The United States has been a major military player in the Middle East for decades. This includes western denunciations of Russias intervention in the Syrian Civil War. But it also would have had the potential to achieve the important goal of reinstating inspections while humiliating Saddam Hussein in the process, two outcomes that would have justified the diplomatic costs. Motivations for Humanitarian intervention: Theoretical and Empirical Considerations. Is Foreign Aid Actually A Good Thing? For example, one can speak about the operation of NATO forces in Kosovo. While it can be a powerful tool for promoting peace and stability, it can also lead to significant human and economic costs. The successful use of military force can prevent further harm Principle of the States Sovereignty and the Phenomenon of Humanitarian Intervention Under Current International Law. Moreover, modern Balkan states have begun to recover economically and politically (Kerton-Johnson, 2010, p. 81). Paul Pillar (right), a former national intelligence officer, with teammate Aaron David Miller, argues that the U.S. should have a smaller military footprint in the Middle East. While there was no declaration of war, there were several instances of combat between the French and American Navies during the Quasi-War. There are also diplomatic opportunities that can arise from military intervention. We utilize security vendors that protect and The use of military force anywhere in the world comes at huge financial cost. New York, NY:Taylor & Francis. First of all, humanitarian intervention is particularly necessary when there is a risk of violence that is based on national, religious, or ethnic prejudice. Other governments and organizations are in a position to provide only limited assistance except where armed resistance is modest or non-existent; the lions share of any demanding military operation will have to be borne by the United States. Although this may not stop all attacks on civilians, even if it only partially acts as a deterrence, then that is a significant advantage of humanitarian intervention. Right now, U.S. forcesmost notably the Armysare too heavy and organized into units that are often too large, too short on sea- and airlift that can use most of the worlds ports and airfields, too light on stores of advanced munitions, and too lacking in the specialized command, control, and intelligence assets and platforms needed to conduct modern combat operations. By Stephen Tankel. The measures to avoid collateral damage insisted on by European members of NATO inhibited operations and limited their usefulness. In some cases, the military may also target civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools, which can further exacerbate the suffering of communities. A second consideration is the likely costs and consequences of acting, both for the immediate problem and for broader U.S. strategic and economic interests. Another significant argument in favour of humanitarian interventions is that they allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to people in need. Efforts during the Persian Gulf War to destroy mobile Iraqi SCUD missiles, for example, were an expensive failure, and attempts to intercept relatively primitive SCUDs with more modern antimissile systems likewise proved unsuccessful for the most part. IvyPanda. Not only that but Programs, Managing Different Generations in the Workplace, Addressing Cultural Diversity Issues in Higher Education, Cultural Diversity Issues in the Criminal Justice System, Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators - Writing Essay Topics & Rubric, The Impact of a Country's Infrastructure on Businesses, Student Organizations & Advisors in Business Education, Staying Active in Teacher Organizations for Business Education, Carl Perkins' Effect on Technical Education Legislation, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. If you want to learn more about humanitarianism, explore our list of the top humanitarian online courses here. This again feeds into the issue of lack of trust: and trust between those We Take A Look, 16 Things International Development Organisations Do. One can get out of the military through a Military intervention can also prevent the spread of violence across borders. This discussion suggests that that military intervention can lead to different outcomes. A point that can be made in favour of humanitarian interventions is that without the use of military force, many oppressive regimes will continue to commit human rights abuses against their civilians. An advantage of taking military action against regimes and groups that break international law is that it means their actions do not go un-punished. All things being equal, it is better to err on the side of too much rather than too little force. People of America, after reviewing all the evidence, Congress has come to a conclusion and will announce the verdict after restating the necessary A final major argument against humanitarian interventions is that many times events that probably should have had military intervention to prevent have not received international action where-as other contexts have. IvyPanda. Since then, the U.S. has had interventions in every continent including countries such as Cuba, Serbia, Vietnam, Korea, Somalia, Iraq, and many others. Both of those efforts must go on while the White House continues to avoid direct conflict between NATO and Russian troops. As the world continues to face challenges from conflicts and instability, it is important to carefully consider all possible solutions before deciding on military intervention. There are many examples throughout history of humanitarian interventions being used to unseat repressive governments. A famous case of this was during the Yugoslav Wars: the U.S., with the help of the United Nations, entered Serbia in 1992 in order to stop the Bosnian genocide. There is much debate over U.S. intervention policy as it has grown unpopular in the U.S. over time. The U.N. peacekeepers entered the territory of the country when the violence against the Tutsi people was already rampant (Cohen, 2007). New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield. The United States simply cannot commit its military might everywhere all the time. This was in an effort to assert American independence as it was still a young and weak nation at that time. Lastly, when the military started working with us, they helped to get saddam out of power. An argument in favour of humanitarian intervention is that using military force against armies and groups preventing humanitarian access can allow aid to be delivered to people. (2020, May 23). Explore the pros and cons of U.S. military intervention and a list of notable U.S. interventions. This is because major nations such as China and Russia would prevent such as move and Western nations that might intervene do want to pay the heavy price of taking military action. The longer the war lasts, the more Supporters of U.S. military intervention argue that there are many positive effects of American foreign policy. The fact that the US has been accused of conducting military operations inside the territory of neighboring Pakistan has not helped the issue; the relationship between this American ally in this region with the US has been strained by the American counteraccusation that the Pakistani government is not applying itself enough to expel al Create an account to start this course today. Since 1900, the U.S. has intervened in Central America over forty times, participating in actions such as deposing governments, annexing land, and policing actions. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. What also emerges from recent history is a new appreciation of the impact of decisions not to use force. WebPros And Cons Of Military Intervention Essay. Canadian Social Science, 9(1), 116-134. This violence was staged by the government of Slobodan Miloevi (Kerton-Johnson, 2010, p. 81). This requires time and political capital, but it is time and capital well spent. Operation Desert Fox against Iraq in 1998 employed a modest amount of air power for a short and arbitrary period of time with no goal other than to weaken the adversarys strength to some unspecified degree. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. He also served as the deputy special Middle East coordinator for Arab-Israeli negotiations, a senior member of the State Department's policy planning staff, in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and in the Office of the Historian. Decisiveness is almost always preferable to gradualism. These huge sums of money, combined with the arguable lack of success in preventing continued conflict, make them good examples against humanitarian interventions. If the aim of a military intervention into another country is to protect civilians and the lasting impact is further conflict, it calls into questions the benefits of humanitarian interventions. Many countries have used the pretence of humanitarian intervention before taking military action. Carrying out more than one kind of intervention in the same place at the same time can invite trouble. This is a good argument for humanitarian interventions as helps to prevent further atrocities whilst also bringing some justice to victims. This is one of the main arguments that can be put forward. This is another example that should not be disregarded by political leaders. Arguments are often made for humanitarian interventions when there are reports of extensive and wide-spread human rights abuses. The first is an unwillingness to allow the military to do its job even when U.S. interests warrant it and the military tool is judged the most appropriate. Several recent experiences highlight just how hard it is to affect a target nations internal politics or political culture with military instruments. These include that they destabilise the country in which the military action is taken, a lack of proper planning following the intervention and systemic issues within the country that are not resolved by the removal of repressive regimes. Debate: Does U.S. Military Intervention In The Middle East By intervening in countries where there are abuses of power and human rights violations, the military can help to promote democratic values and encourage peaceful transitions of power. It is true that American interests in Kosovo were less than vital, and that persuading the American people and their elected representatives of the need to make large sacrifices, including casualties, would not have been easy. The former effort must be ended before the latter can be effective. In the case of Iraq, decisions not to use forceor to impose sharp limits on how much force would be usedhave given Saddam the time and opportunity to defy UN demands and reconstitute Iraqs weapons of mass destruction. Also, many military actions claimed as humanitarian interventions are denounced by political opponents as overt military aggressions. The U.S. has a long history of conflict intervention starting with the Barbary Wars during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. His books include Negotiating Peace: War Termination as a Bargaining Process (1983), Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy (2001) and Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy: Iraq, 9/11, and Misguided Reform (2011). This course looks at the major shifts in global affairs, including the use of military force against states committing atrocities. Military intervention can also help to promote human rights and democracy. (2008). For those wanting to gain a better understand of the pros and cons of humanitarian intervention, we also recommend the online course An International Security Series: Genocide. WebThe Pros of U.S. Military Intervention. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Central America has suffered heavily from American interventions. Military Interventions: Advantages and Disadvantages. Certainly, the U.S. troops succeeded in destroying the regime of Saddam Hussein. This is because Rwandan armed groups believed the US or other countries would not intervene following the failure in Somalia. Many of these effects include: These have been the reasons for many interventions, including the Korean War, the Yugoslav Wars, the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the many U.S. deployments in Africa. His first book, America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder, will be published in November. This would often result in the toppling of governments, the control of international markets, or the outright conquest of these foreign countries. This can also mean disparate groups now band together to fight what they see as an aggression against their country. The selective use of humanitarian interventions is a crucial part of why some people are against them. The latter instance, along with the raid on suspected terrorist installations in Afghanistan, underscores the difficulty of carrying out successful preventive and preemptive interventions when critical, time-sensitive information is difficult to obtain. Home Blog Pros And Cons Of Military Intervention, Pros and Cons of Military Intervention ===if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ablison_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_11',617,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ablison_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ablison_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_12',617,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ablison_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-617{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. While military intervention can help to stabilize regions and prevent the spread of violence, it can also lead to significant human and economic costs. By using force to stop conflicts in neighboring countries, the military can prevent the destabilization of entire regions. Another argument that can be made against humanitarian interventions is that by taking military action against those committing atrocities, actually more lives can be lost. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. May 23, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/military-interventions-advantages-and-disadvantages/. This American interference was so common that even private organizations such as the United Fruit Company, Standard Fruit Company, and Cuyamel Fruit Company all interfered in the politics of Central America. As the first decade of the post-Cold War period draws to a close, one thing is certain: military intervention remains a central feature of American foreign policy. The first is the scale of the problem: not every repression is a genocide. The Gulf Wars were also supported by some who argued the U.S. needed to restore stability to the Middle East by fighting against Saddam Hussein, an oppressive dictator responsible for several wars in the region. One-hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide. May 23, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/military-interventions-advantages-and-disadvantages/. Many of these effects include: This policy of isolationism would remain popular with many Americans until World War I when the country's global power began rising even though the U.S. found itself involved in many foreign entanglements over the years. No periodic elections 9. Published September 11, 2014. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. We are committed to helping our readers make informed decisions about their finances, and encourage you to explore our site for helpful resources and insights. Those who argue against humanitarian interventions also state that the funds could be better used to help people in need, such as in economic development or peace building initiatives. Over time, the map of U.S. interventions would expand to include countries from every continent on Earth. In Kosovo, it would have been wiser to continue diplomacy and deal with a limited humanitarian crisis while looking for ways to weaken or topple the Milosevic regime, or to send in ground forces at the outset and prevent the displacement and killing. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Michael Doran is a senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in Middle East security issues. In turn, the international community wanted to stop this ethnic cleansing. Delay can make any intervention more complicated and costly. There have been some of examples of when humanitarian interventions have successfully held war criminals and human rights abusers to account. Modern military equipment costs many millions of dollars. How To Get An NGO Job In Canada (Complete Guide), 7 Reasons Why Developed Countries Are Rich, 7 Reasons Western Countries Are More Developed, How To Get An NGO Job In The United States (Complete Guide), UN Peacekeeping mission in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, International Humanitarian Law in Theory and Practice, An International Security Series: Genocide. Such considerations would have made America less likely to occupy Haiti or to expand the Somalia intervention into nation-building, but might have encouraged the United States to act earlier in Bosnia and Rwanda, where small interventions could conceivably have prevented genocide. Another online short course we highly recommend for those interested in humanitarian interventions is The Changing Global Order, also offered by Leiden University. It can be hard to find concrete examples of when humanitarian interventions have acted as deterrence to governments and regimes. One of the most important interventions was the Mexican-American War, as it largely increased the size of the U.S. These nations commonly intervened in the affairs of foreign countries in order to exert their own influence on a global scale. Previous successful humanitarian interventions can show human rights abusers that there are limits on their actions. The American intervention in Yugoslavia is often credited for helping to stop the violence of the Bosnian Genocide. Of course, no system is better than the intelligence fed into it; accuracy is no virtue if the target is misidentified, as was the case with the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, or if the intelligence assessment is in itself flawed, as may have been the case in the U.S. attack on an alleged chemical plant in Sudan. A major point that can be made against humanitarian interventions is that they have a historical record of not achieving lasting peace. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield. To have a nation militarily violate the sovereignty of another country is controversial. This intrusion helped to stop the violence against Albanians. A major argument against humanitarian interventions is that they can result in more deaths, not less. - Definition, History & Examples, American Interventionism: Origins, Pros & Cons, Regionalism in Politics: Definition, Characteristics & Types, Regionalism in Politics: History & Examples, Regionalism in Politics: Importance & Effects, Regionalism in Indian Politics: Role, Causes & Impact, Religious Socialism: Definition, Theory & Criticism, Social Conservatism vs. Social Liberalism, Social Conservatism vs. Fiscal Conservatism, Cultural Conservatism vs. Social Conservatism, What is Social Conservatism? For example, military operations can help to create a common enemy, which can bring together otherwise opposing countries or groups. Krieg, A. In their opinion, this main purpose of this interference is to impose ones geopolitical interests upon another country (Manokha, 2008, p. 11). But the Clinton administration never tried. - Definition & Examples, What is Social Imperialism? At this point, one cannot tell when this country can cope with the legacies of a totalitarian regime and continuous war. Humanitarian interventions can also create a safe space for civilians to move away from fighting. Nate Sullivan holds a M.A. Such questions are no substitute for situational judgment: there can be no template for intervention. Some of the problems encountered in Kosovo were tied directly to the decision to use air power alone rather than in conjunction with ground forces. Such coercion thus remains a risky form of intervention in that it cedes the initiative to the target, which has to decide whether to hold out or to compromise. An often-sighted argument against humanitarian interventions is that they are often used a cover by countries for military actions. Additionally, it is possible that in the course of this ethnic conflict, a dictatorial and totalitarian government can come into power. These interventions each had their own effect on the U.S. as a whole, such as the many protests caused by the unpopularity of the Vietnam War. They have been aimed at stopping or reducing violence within certain countries. 22 chapters | Kerton-Johnson, N. (2010). In addition to the large-scale intervention that successfully liberated Kuwait in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, the United States invaded Panama to protect U.S. citizens and the Canal, oust Panamas leader, and seat the elected government; entered Somalia, initially to feed its people and then to shape its politics; occupied a Haiti that was hemorrhaging people and ignoring the political wishes of its citizens; bombed Bosnias Serbs both to weaken them and to induce them to sign a peace accord; kept the peace in Bosnia in the aftermath of the Dayton peace accords; dispatched air and naval forces to the Taiwan Straits in order to signal China of the U.S. commitment to Taiwan; attacked an Afghan terrorist camp and an alleged pharmaceutical facility in Sudan to retaliate against terrorist attacks and to discourage new ones; bombed Iraq to encourage its compliance with international stipulations and to punish it for ignoring the same; went to war with Serbia over Kosovo; and provided support personnel to a multinational force sent to East Timor. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Under such circumstances, it is vital to stop different ethnic groups from entering into a military confrontation with one another. Finally, it is important to mention that a military intervention can result into the deaths of many American citizens. Just going to have to do it all over again in six years, 13 years, 17 years, and 21 years anyway. Paying the Human Costs of War: American Public Opinion and Casualties in Military Conflicts. Consequences for Defense and Foreign Policy. Need a custom Research Paper sample written from scratch by "Military Interventions: Advantages and Disadvantages." An example of how humanitarian interventions have been used selectively is North Korea. International Humanitarian Law is the legal foundation of humanitarian interventions and understanding its basic concepts is key to gaining an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of trying to end crimes against humanity. Soon after the Quasi-War, Thomas Jefferson authorized the use of the American military in the Barbary Wars in response to pirates kidnapping American sailors and demanding tribute. These outcomes are all arguments in favour of humanitarian interventions. Where interests do not warrant peacemaking or nation-building operations that are costly in both financial and human terms, there may be less demanding options for doing good, such as establishing one or more safe havens in an affected country or designing operations to keep opposing factions apart. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'humanitariancareers_com-leader-2','ezslot_8',605,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-humanitariancareers_com-leader-2-0');Two humanitarian interventions that are renowned for their huge financial costs are the US interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Most humanitarian interventions are justified by aiming to end human rights violations against civilians. In some instances, such as where high-value targets are sparse or the adversary is exploiting its advantage on the ground, only ground forces will be able to protect the interests involved. Nonetheless, a humanitarian intervention can still be a valid strategy when it is necessary to avert an ethnic conflict. In order to better understand if military force should be used to protect civilians in other countries, lets explore the advantages and disadvantages of humanitarian interventions. Although the aim of a humanitarian intervention is to prevent further human rights abuses, in fact often military interventions in countries result in an increase in bloodshed. There are many reasons why humanitarian interventions can result in further conflict. Domestic opposition to such a commitment can be reduced and overcome by concerted presidential effort and by designing interventions that justify an American casualty level by the interests at stake.