I need a thorough PhD proposal on humanitarian intervention and R2P. My aim is to have a thesis in which I assess several levels – the legal side, the conflict resolution side and the political side – legality, efficiency, strategy, and scope.
In my PhD I would point out that most scholarly work ommits assessing the strategic side employed in these kind of interventions (which often proved faulty and weak) and that these interventions are politically tied (whereas several scholars claim they aren’t political, some deem them fully political). In the historical background, I want to point to the natural law (based on so-called moral reasoning) and positive law (based on political reasoning), and how these two influenced to a great extent the political world order (and generally, the international system).
Also, I want to point out the concept of ‘just war’ (Jus ad bellum) and of the international humanitarian law (Jus in bello). Mention current criteria for the legitimacy to resort to military force (i.e. humanitarian intervention): 1. just cause; 2. right intention; 3. right authority; 4. last resort; 5. reasonable prospect for success. I want to also include how humanitarian intervention long precedes R2P (I would want a thorough background of R2P as part of the UN Charter), how although it was applied under the modern concept and understanding of it only after the end of the Cold War, its roots go further in history. As case studies, I want to start from the 1991 American intervention in Iraq (considered mainly as successful), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, East Timor, Afghanistan (failed), Iraq 2003 (which was conisidered in part humanitarian intervention by the US, until it was concluded that the US lied and falsified proof), Libya (I will portray it as a failed one, having lacked the necessary basis, based on Alan Kuperman’s writings on Libya), Syria (failed one), Yemen (failed one).
In terms of methodology, I aim to use both qualitative research methods (historical analysis, content analysis, case study, data collection – both primary and secondary sources -i.e scholarly articles, legal documents, official assessments and government releases etc) and quantitative (statistics on the success rate of these interventions – death rate of civilians as compared to the death rate perceived if no intervention occurred, etc).
I must point out to the great importance scope and strategy hold in the success of these interventions, and how many failed due to both of these (no strategy for the aftermath of these interventions). In terms of theories (it is my weak point), several would come into play (conflict resolution, realism vs liberalism, institutionalism). I also must point out to how in several critical cases, where humanitarian intervention was necessary (or is, currently), the UN or the international community had not intervened under humanitarian intervention or R2P, due to lack of political interest or bias (examples: Rwanda, current Sudan war, the war on Gaza, the current conflict in Haiti).
The research questions I have in mind are: 1. how often have humanitarian military interventions or interventions under R2P succeded and served the actual and legal scope they should have, based on the criteria enshrined in the UN Charter and based on conflict reolution principles? 2. How efficient have these interventions been in achieving their espoused goals? 3. what have been the short-term and long-term impacts and consequences on the regions which went through such interventions? 4. in what type of instances should such interventions really be put into practice and what is the consequence of the international community’s failure to intervene when necessary?
I will also need a good literature review (I will attach sources but more will be needed also for the case studies).
https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/jcs/article/view/4378/5055
https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/in-sudan-where-is-the-international-communitys-responsibility-to-protect/
https://lucris.lub.lu.se/ws/files/6355177/625444.pdf
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/instability-haiti
https://www.securityincontext.com/posts/r2p-and-the-palestinian-ordeal
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/17502977.2024.2304987?needAccess=true
https://www.jstor.org/stable/24480571
https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/Kuperman%20policy%20brief%20published%20version%202.pdf
https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/about-responsibility-to-protect.shtml#:~:text=Paragraphs%20on%20the%20Responsibility%20to%20Protect&text=Each%20individual%20State%20has%20the,through%20appropriate%20and%20necessary%20means.
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/fdfa/foreign-policy/international-law/international-humanitarian-law.html