>Foreign Intervention
>Can foreign intervention be justified? If so under what circumstances? And how far can it go?
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>Can foreign intervention be justified? If so under what circumstances? And how far can it go?
Battison's Blog 
>the simple answer to whether for intervention can be justified. Is yes, under specific authorisation from the United Nations Security Council under chapter 7 article 44 of the United Nations charter. Where the Security Council is deadlocked in exceptional circumstances is it permissible for for intervention to be authorised by the general assembly under the resolution uniting for peace. the Security Council authorised intervention where there is a threat to international peace and security.providing the intervention is within the letter of international law and keeps to the criteria laid out in the just war theory then yes intervention can be justified most definitely.The circumstances were foreign intervention is permissible I would argue falls into two categories the first being acts of self-defence. I will not discuss in detail this. I will concentrate on the second category this being ethnic cleansing and genocide (severe violations of human rights). I would advocate that the international community and each citizen of the world has a moral responsibility to prevent and interdict to halt ethnic cleansing and genocide were ever it is taking place. It is unacceptable to stand and watch innocent women and children being massacres whether that is in Srebrenica,Rwanda or for that matter in the occupied territories where the Israeli authorities target Palestinians. The intervention can go as far as is required to halt the ethnic cleansing/genocide. Or within the parameters laid down by the United Nations Security Council.
>UN chapter 7, article 44: When the Security Council has decided to use force it shall, before calling upon a Member not represented on it to provide armed forces in fulfilment of the obligations assumed under Article 43, invite that Member, if the Member so desires, to participate in the decisions of the Security Council concerning the employment of contingents of that Member's armed forces.
>It's a little bit vague. It doesn't actually committ anyone to anything.But yes I agree that foreign intervention can be justified. I agree that intervention can only be justified when there is a threat to international peace or national defence, and, perhaps especially in the event of a humanitarian disaster. I also agree that that intervention should first be authorised by the UN. However the UN needs massive reform. And if I was the leader of a country hearing news of the Rwandan Genocide or another similar situation I would not wait for UN authorisation before intervening. And I would hope (rather foolishly I know) that other leaders will not stand by and watch another genocide either.In reality the UN needs huge reform at every level if we are ever to reach a situation where following the UN becomes the norm.P.S. Thanks for the comment Paul. It's a good one.