Humanitarian Intervention: Ideas in Action(War and Conflict in the Modern World)

A singular development of the post Cold-War era is the use of military force to protect human beings. From Rwanda to Kosovo, Sierra Leone to East Timor, soldiers have rescued civilians in some of the world's most notorious war zones. Drawing on two decades of research, Thomas G. Weiss provides a compelling introduction to the theory and practice of humanitarian intervention in the modern world. He examines political, ethical, legal, strategic, economic, and operational dimensions and uses a wide range of cases to highlight key debates and controversies. This succinct and highly accessible survey is neither celebratory nor complacent. The author locates the normative evolution of what is increasingly known as "the responsibility to protect" in the context of the war on terror and the 2005 UN World Summit. The result is an engaging exploration of the current dilemmas and future challenges for international humanitarian action in the 21st Century.

Table of Contents:
* Table of Contents * About the Author * List of Abbreviations * Foreword by Gareth Evans * Acknowledgements * Introduction *1 Conceptual Building Blocks * *2 "Humanitarian" Interventions: Thumbnail Sketches * *3 New Wars and New Humanitarianisms * *4 New Thinking: The Responsibility to Protect * *5 So What? Moving from Rhetoric to Reality * * Notes * Selected Readings * Index *

About the Author :
Thomas Weiss is Presidential Professor of Political Science at the City University of New York.

Review :
"Quite simply, the best short account of the notion of humanitarian intervention currently available." British Journal of Sociology "Given the centrality of humanitarian intervention to the study of contemporary international politics, it is surprising that to date there has not been an introduction to the subject suitable for non-specialists, which is at once both accessible and authoritative. Here it is at last ... an ideal course text." International Affairs "A very good starting point to 'put the ideas in action' and think about the whole complexity of the problem ranging from theoretical conceptualization and legal considerations to practical features and political obstacles. The greatest advantages of this book are its complexity, clarity and comprehensiveness, which will attract not only students and scholars from the field, but anyone interested in current inter- and intra-state conflicts and the potentials available for their resolution." Central European Journal of Security Studies "There are few better placed to provide insight into the current controversy and this book comprises a comprehensive statement of [Weiss'] influential perspective." Political Studies Review "A clear and straightforward account of the changing meaning, history and practice of humanitarian intervention, which offers an invaluable introduction to the subject." Survival "Thomas Weiss has contributed much to the debates surrounding the legitimacy of humanitarian interventions, and this text sums up his views in a succinct and direct manner." Australian Journal of Political Science "Few observers have written more, or more persuasively, than Professor Weiss, and this is his best work to date. A sensible, thorough, and realistic treatment." Fernando Teson, Florida State University "In Humanitarian Intervention, Thomas G. Weiss combines conceptual sophistication, an authoritative analysis of past cases of humanitarian intervention, and a compelling discussion of the problems and challenges that bedevil the international community's attempts to rescue imperiled humanity. This book is indispensable reading for students, practitioners, and general readers wanting to diagnose the ills of past interventions and understand how the international community might do better in the future." Nicholas Wheeler, The University of Wales, Aberystwyth