Populo Spring 2017

definition of humanitarian interventions, but also of challenging and critiquing existing definitions. The individuality of interventions throughout the 1990’s is reflected through the continuous adaptations to the UN’s approach to these contemporary threats to the peace. I have outlined the prominence of globalisation and the human security approach adopted by the UN in coming to an understanding of why these threats occur and why the international community has become so obliged to act on their moral responsibilities. The legal and theoretical framework surrounding humanitarian military interventions is very much based on individual perceptions of if, and when morality should be placed above legality. International law also reflects the ever present role of state sovereignty, what I believe should be placed well below the role of human suffering in legitimising the use of force from international actors. Nevertheless, it is evident that the use of force is becoming progressively acceptable, so long as the motivations are just and the methods deployed are lawful. The foremost argument from those scholars arguing that interventions of the 1990’s reflects a period of imperialistic re - emergence regards the self-centred motives, geopolitical motives of those states deploying military force. However, as I have ascertained within Chapter 4, the presence of national interests does not subside the humanitarian intentions to protect the security of those in need of protecting. The use of force is applied in varying forms, nevertheless, the democratic system in which military objectives are set prevents any act of illegitimacy. The strength of the UN in applying both the Jus ad Bellum and Jus in Bello concepts is somewhat undermined by examples of non-intervention. This was the case in Rwanda in 1994 when the use of force was not applied, what resulted was the worst genocide since the Holocaust. This strengthens my argument that the use of military force is crucial in preventing any further loss of human life, so long as the crimes committed are representative of a just cause for intervention. The failures of Rwanda are addressed within my recommendations chapter as support for unilateral interventions and the need for legal reform. The criticisms faced by the UN, and the Security Council in particular have been analysed and challenged

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