Was there humanitarian intervention in Syria?

Other efforts included training of rebel personnel, sanctions on the Syrian government, and humanitarian aid (Mazzetti et al., 2017; Sharp & Blanchard, 2013). Since September 2014, the United States has actively intervened in the Syrian conflict in all manner of efforts principally air strikes.

What are the arguments for humanitarian intervention?

Humanitarian intervention is justified because the international community has a moral duty to protect common humanity and because there is a legal obligation, codified in international law, for states to intervene against large scale human rights abuses. That obligation should be met in all cases of genocide.

What are the criteria for humanitarian intervention?

There is convincing evidence, generally accepted by the international community as a whole, of extreme humanitarian distress on a large scale, requiring immediate and urgent relief; it must be objectively clear that there is no practicable alternative to the use of force if lives are to be saved; and.

Is the humanitarian intervention in Syria a just war?

Humanitarian intervention is dismissed by many, especially small countries likely to be its target, as an oxymoron. It is rightly feared that “humanitarian war” provides a convenient cloak for new forms of imperialism and self-interested violations of state sovereignty. In just war terms, it raises issues of right intention.

Why was the intervention in Syria a failure?

Given the prevailing approach to international intervention since the end of the Cold War, this failure is, sadly, unsurprising. Specifically, the conflation over time of political and humanitarian objectives has damaged the concept of impartial humanitarian action, without which—as Syria shows—innocent civilians are without protection.

Is there a presumption against intervention in Syria?

Especially given the negative, unpredictable and uncontrollable consequences of military intervention in places like Syria, the strong presumption must be against the use of military force. Yet, advocates for humanitarian intervention are tempted to embrace a permissive just war ethic. Their presumption is not against war, but for justice.

What was the purpose of R2P in Syria?

R2P is intended to refocus the debate from military interventions to developing the capacities of states like Syria to meet their obligations to their own citizens. What advocates of military intervention in Syria tend to neglect is the relationship between an ethic of intervention and an ethic of peacebuilding.