The right to intervene’ in the domestic affairs of states

Bibliographic Data

ID12348191
AuthorsGary Klintworth (Australian National University, corresponding author)
Year1992
Volume46
Issue2
Pages248-266
Publication date1992-11-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Journal Of International Affairs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1035-7718 • E-ISSN: 1465-332X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10357719208445088
OpenAlexW2069977657
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited9

One ofthe most important developments in the new world order that nations hope to establish is the notion of ' a right to intervene ' by the United Nations in the internal affairs of member states . The violation of human rights , or the oppression of an ethnic minority, such as the Kurds in Iraq , could trigger UN intervention if the Security Council determines there is a threat to the regional peace. When a government murders its own people on a large scale , there will invariably be an impact across international borders . Potentially , therefore , the United Nations - if it has the will - can always make out a case for 'a right to intervene' whenever and wherever there is government - sponsored brutality on a scale such as to shock the conscience of mankind . Given a wide reading of the purposes of the UN Charter , the possession of weapons of mass destruction , pollution and the heritage of mankind could also become matters properly dealt with by the United Nations . Of course , any form of intervention by the United Nations will depend on agreement amongst the Permanent Members of the Security Council . Nonetheless , as far as human rights are concerned , it seems that the world has reached a point where it will - in principle - no longer tolerate the massive and deliberate violation of human rights by any state , unless the target state sits at or near the intersection of important strategic , economic or political interests

Foreign policy · International relations · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · International Law and Human Rights · Law · Ombudsman and Human Rights · Public Administration

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