Intervention as international conflict management
Themes
“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” - Carl W.
Buechner
“Interventions are least likely in situations where the R2P needs intervention most - conflicts in
which the government commits widespread atrocities against a minority group.” Do you agree?
Why?
Two Contrasting World Views
The Liberal/Idealist World View - diverse but essentially agree on the importance of dealing with
reality and converge on the following assumptions
● Human nature is essentially “good” – the attainment of moral virtue and justice in
international affairs is a meaningful aspiration.
● Fundamentally, because humans
Liberalism
● War and injustice are international problems that require collective or multilateral efforts
to eliminate them.
● International; society must reorganize institutionally to eliminate the ;awless anarchy that
makes problems such as war and competitive vengeance likely.
● Global change and cooperation are possible because history records humanity’s
continuing efforts to engineer reforms that build collaborative problem-solving
institutions.
Realist world view
Like liberals, realists hold diverse worldviews, but all essentially agree on the following basic
assumptions.
● Conflicts of interest among nations are inevitable; the purpose of statecraft is to ensure
national survival by acquiring power.
● History teaches that people are by nature sinful and wicked.
● Of all people’s evil ways, no sins are more prevalent
Realism
● The anarchic nature of the international system necessitates the acquisition of military
capabilities to deter or subdue any potential rival.
● Economic
●
Realism continued
● Allies might increase the ability of a state to defend itself, but their loyalty and reliability
should not be assumed.
● International law and international organizations cannot be trusted to preserve peace.
● International stability results from maintaining a balance of power.
Themes
“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” - Carl W.
Buechner
“Interventions are least likely in situations where the R2P needs intervention most - conflicts in
which the government commits widespread atrocities against a minority group.” Do you agree?
Why?
Two Contrasting World Views
The Liberal/Idealist World View - diverse but essentially agree on the importance of dealing with
reality and converge on the following assumptions
● Human nature is essentially “good” – the attainment of moral virtue and justice in
international affairs is a meaningful aspiration.
● Fundamentally, because humans
Liberalism
● War and injustice are international problems that require collective or multilateral efforts
to eliminate them.
● International; society must reorganize institutionally to eliminate the ;awless anarchy that
makes problems such as war and competitive vengeance likely.
● Global change and cooperation are possible because history records humanity’s
continuing efforts to engineer reforms that build collaborative problem-solving
institutions.
Realist world view
Like liberals, realists hold diverse worldviews, but all essentially agree on the following basic
assumptions.
● Conflicts of interest among nations are inevitable; the purpose of statecraft is to ensure
national survival by acquiring power.
● History teaches that people are by nature sinful and wicked.
● Of all people’s evil ways, no sins are more prevalent
Realism
● The anarchic nature of the international system necessitates the acquisition of military
capabilities to deter or subdue any potential rival.
● Economic
●
Realism continued
● Allies might increase the ability of a state to defend itself, but their loyalty and reliability
should not be assumed.
● International law and international organizations cannot be trusted to preserve peace.
● International stability results from maintaining a balance of power.
