Daily Discussion III

[goodarmcindy]

Here we go again - slightly different this time around.

Topic:

Does humanitarian intervention by force produce overall humanitarian gains?

[goodarmcindy]

I did an essay on this topic last year and found it to be really, really interesting. I had a lot of my pre(mis)conceptions shattered and found it brought up some really heated debate in classes.

I ended up saying that humanitarian intervention did not produce overall humanitarian gains. I also touched on the issue of whether it was ever justified, although that is a much bigger question.

I believed that short-term aims, a sense of moral superiority of those "helping", the danger that some countries would allow humanitarian crises to receive help and the role of the media in selecting crises and shaping public opinion all weakened humanitarian gains.

As an example of a case study, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia was frequently brought up.

[Mitch]

Humanitarian issues are rarely the first reason, if a real one at all, interventions occur, in my opinion. It's just a pretext.

I don't really know what I'm talking about, though--that was just my first reaction to the original post.

[Jefferson Rank]

I think people always should be able to ask for help. Things are messed up in the world, so everyone needs to help solve them.

Though it's doubtful that'll happen.

[J.C.]

I think this is pretty broad and the answer might differ from case to case.

[xshady121]

No.

[Nevuk]

No, but it's not like anyone ever really does interventions for humanitarian reasons.

[saysmydoctor]

No.