Somalia, Serbia-Montenegro, Iraq – These are just three of several countries that were exposed to external military intervention in recent times. Although this kind of intervention is in principle prohibited under international law under Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, states have not been hesitating to use force in order to retaliate against an aggressor, to preventively fight against a threat to national security or to protect human rights. Regardless of its legality, it is interesting to analyze the legitimacy of an intervention from an ethical perspective. Under which conditions is a state morally justified to militarily interfere in another state’s internal affairs? What are the moral standards on which a state’s conduct of war should be based? Opinions among scholars differ greatly when dealing with this contentious issue. This essay is going to provide some possible answers.
Initially, I define the key concepts of the essay theme: “morality” and “intervention”. The second chapter deals with two crucial theories of the justice of intervention, namely utilitarianism and just war theory. Subsequently, I present some of Michael Walzer’s ideas about just war as elaborated in his famous book “Just and Unjust Wars”. At the end of my essay, in the fourth chapter, I attempt to answer the question whether the NATO intervention in Kosovo was morally justified by applying just war theory. The second and third chapter are accompanied by my personal evaluation.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- I. Definition of Central Concepts
- 1.1. Morality
- 1.2. Intervention
- II. Crucial Theories of the Justice of Intervention
- 2.1. Utilitarianism
- 2.2. Just War Theory
- III. "Just and Unjust Wars” – Michael Walzer's Moral Position
- 3.1. Theoretical Argumentation
- 3.2. Criticism
- IV. Case Study: Was the NATO Intervention in Kosovo Morally Justified According to Just War Theory?
- 4.1. Background
- 4.2. Moral Legitimacy in Accordance with Just War Theory
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to explore the ethical dimensions of state intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries. Specifically, it examines the moral justification for military intervention and the standards by which a state's conduct of war should be judged.
- Definition and scope of "morality" and "intervention"
- Competing theories of the justice of intervention, including utilitarianism and just war theory
- Michael Walzer's influential perspective on just war theory
- Application of just war theory to a specific case study: the NATO intervention in Kosovo
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The introduction sets the stage by discussing the contemporary phenomenon of state intervention in other countries, highlighting the complexities of legality and morality in such situations.
- Chapter I defines key concepts: morality, understood as principles guiding right and wrong behavior, and intervention, encompassing both non-violent and violent forms of state interference.
- Chapter II delves into two influential theories of the justice of intervention: utilitarianism, which judges actions based on their consequences, and just war theory, which focuses on the moral justifications for war.
- Chapter III presents Michael Walzer's insights on just war theory, drawing from his seminal work "Just and Unjust Wars." This chapter analyzes both Walzer's theoretical arguments and criticisms of his approach.
- Chapter IV examines the NATO intervention in Kosovo through the lens of just war theory, considering the background of the conflict and evaluating the moral legitimacy of the intervention based on this framework.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay revolves around the core concepts of state intervention, international law, morality, just war theory, human rights, and the application of ethical principles to real-world conflicts. It explores various perspectives on the justification for military intervention and the ethical considerations involved in state actions.
- Quote paper
- Christian Kreß (Author), 2005, When is military intervention morally justified?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/40859
