Ethics of Intervention: Just War Theory and the Challenge of the 21st Century

The diverse and complex ways in which individuals from one society now engage in the political affairs of individuals living in other societies have generated a wealth of academic and practitioner analysis. In ensuing debates, ethics of intervention have featured prominently. However, just war theory, traditionally a key frame for ethical analysis, plays a comparatively small part in contemporary discourse. This article thus examines how just war thinking can be used to guide current interventionist practice, and in particular how it can structure analysis of recourse to engagement. It begins by surveying recent debate. It then conceptualizes intervention by developing an eight-part typology. Next, it presents a six-part framework for ethical evaluation of recourse to intervention, drawn from just war theory but attuned to contemporary practice. It closes by briefly considering operationalization of the framework in the real world of international politics.