The Use of Force in Humanitarian Intervention: Morality and Practicalities

"Humanitarian Intervention is a many layered and complex concept. While moral society has an obligation to stop deliberate and persistent serious human rights abuse, the direct use of force remains a contentious option alongside other strategies employed by the international community." This study analyses the various ethical positions, particularly consequentialism, welfare-utilitarianism and just-war theory to unravel this intricate topic. Uniquely this book goes beyond previous philosophical or ethical treatments of the subject, to provide a more rounded and practical reflection on the lessons learnt from the revival of humanitarian intervention as a tool of conflict resolution.