by Jeanine

Created on: August 07, 2008   Last Updated: August 08, 2008

Humanitarian Intervention is the condition which allows for interference of one state by another, with intentions of helping the people during times of crisis, such as genocide or civil war. This is relatively a new practice which is still in the process of development and transformation. This practice has been used in a variety of ways, some good and some bad. Humanitarian Intervention opens the doors to allow powerful states to manipulate lesser states, by means of intervention on false pretenses. Cases of Intervention which have had an ulterior motive have risen recently, and will continue to rise based on the self interest of the United States, as well as other major powers. Western powers have been found to intervene based on their own interests and needs while ignoring areas where serious intervention is needed.

I will go on to argue that, when Humanitarian Intervention is needed, there is often no help. But when a nation is not necessarily in an extreme crisis but has something to offer another occupying state, help is always on the way, even if it is not needed. This passage explains that my argument is a common belief "When nations send their military forces into other nations' territory, it is rarely (if ever) for "humanitarian" purposes. They are typically pursuing their narrow national interest grabbing territory, gaining geo-strategic advantage, or seizing control of precious natural resources. Leaders hope to win public support by describing such actions in terms of high moral purposes bringing peace, justice, democracy and civilization to the affected area." (Quaker United Nations Office) This has been a rising problem as the conditions of Humanitarian Intervention are still being transformed and adapted to certain circumstances. Humanitarian Intervention is not always used as it is supposed to, this results in violation of another states' sovereignty.

There have been many cases of misuse of Humanitarian Intervention; I believe that super powers, such as the United States, feel that this gives them the right to implement their own policies on other nations. This ends up being a violation of sovereignty in the occupied state because the intervention often extends beyond its initial intentions. After intervention is approved, the state is able to intervene within the sovereign state and there are no restrictions to what can happen. This is how the manipulation of resources and land takes place. The question remains, Can Humanitarian Intervention

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