Making the Case for Humanitarian Intervention: National Interest and Moral Imperative

Abstract

Complex considerations challenge U.S. political leaders when faced with the possibility of humanitarian intervention by means of military force. Humanitarian intervention is a delicate matter in which decision makers are constrained or compelled by circumstances of national interest and moral imperative. This examination of humanitarian intervention reviews the foreign policy context and debate within the U.S. government across three case studies: Rwanda, Kosovo, and Libya. Each case study reveals the role of national interest and moral imperative in driving policymakers to a tipping point at which they make the final determination to use or refrain from military force. Both national interest and the desire to end human suffering serve as incentives for intervention, and one may be stronger than the other in any given situation.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2015
Accession Number
ADA620598

Entities

People

  • Ryan L. Benitez

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Department Of State
  • Foreign Policy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Operations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Societies
  • Terrorism
  • Treaties
  • Urban Areas
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • International Relations and Conflict Resolution
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.