Hope Restored: Benefits of Humanitarian Intervention

• Published in: Harvard international review Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 18 - 63
• Main Author: Barzani, Massoud
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, Mass Harvard International Relations Council, Inc 01-10-1993; Harvard International Relations Council
• Subjects: Armed forces; Countries; Feature: Humanitarian Intervention; Genocide; Human rights; Human rights violations; HUMAN RIGHTS, DECLARATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS (OFFICIAL ORGANIZATIONS); Humanitarian intervention; International community; International cooperation; INTERVENTIONISM (MILITARY, POLITICAL, AND/OR ECONOMIC INTERFERENCE BY A SOVEREIGN STATE OR AN INTERNATIONAL AGENCY IN THE AFFAIRS OF ANOTHER SOVEREIGN STATE); KURDS, A PEOPLE INHABITING PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH ASIA; Military diplomacy; NEW WORLD ORDER; Sovereignty; UNITED NATIONS
• ISSN: 0739-1854; 2374-6564

QUESTIONS OF HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION ARE OFTEN CONSIDERED IN THEORETICAL CONTEXT BY PERSONS WHO CAN DECLARE OPINIONS WITHOUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES. THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OFFERS A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THE INTERVENTION ISSUE WHICH COMPLIMENTS THAT OF THE THEORIST. THIS ARTICLE IS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LEADER OF THE IRAQI KURDS, MASSOUD BARZANI, WHO CONSIDERS HIS PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES WHEN ANALYZING THE INTERVENTION PROBLEMS. THIS ARTICLES COVERS HIS RESPONSE TO MANY QUESTIONS INCLUDING UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES MUST MILTARY FORCE, AS OPPOSED TO OTHER MEANS, BE USED TO ACHIEVE HUMANITARIAN GOALS? AS WELL AS WHY SHOULD THE SOVEREIGNTY OF A NATION BE VIOLATED BY OTHER NATIONS IN THE NAME OF HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION? BARZANI CLAIMS "THE OLD WORLD ORDER, BASED ON THE EXERCISE OF POWER, MUST NOW GIVE WAY TO A NEW WORLD ORDER IN WHICH NATIONS RESPOND TO THE PRESSING NEEDS OF HUMANKIND. THE UN MUST TAKE A CENTRAL ROLE IF THAT ORDER IS TO BE REALIZED."