Humanitarian Intervention in Contemporary Conflict: A Reconceptualization

This is a wide-ranging assessment of the international response to devastating contemporary conflicts, such as those in Bosnia, Somalia and Rwanda. It is a comprehensive account, examining humanitarian intervention in the post-Cold War period. After a thorough survey of the traditional debates, the authors concentrate on an analysis of contemporary conflict, using illustrations from a range of post-Cold War examples. Various options, including non-intervention, non-forcible peacekeeping and forcible humanitarian intervention, are illustrated and discussed, with profiles of the most destructive contemporary conflicts and the responses to them by the international community. The role of governments, UN agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations is carefully examined. From this material, the authors argue for a reconceptualization of humanitarian intervention, and develop principles which, they argue, should govern all of its uses. The book ends with detailed accounts of Bosnia and Somalia. In broadening and up-dating the theory of humanitarian intervention, this book provides detailed examples. The book is suitable as an introduction for students studying international relations, international conflict and conflict resolution. It should also be of interest to those governments, UN agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations concerned to develop a more effective response to humanitarian crisis.