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Sometimes described as ‘interference’, action directed at a state from outside with the immediate intention either of influencing some aspect of its domestic policy or of changing its regime. Another desired outcome – especially in the latter case – may be to modify its foreign policy as well. The author of the intervention may be another state, an alliance, or an international organization. The act of intervention and the means involved always attract contention, on both political and legal grounds. But for some years there has been increasing support for the view that intervention is permitted in certain circumstances, provided the UN Security Council has authorized such action. (The recent view that this authorization is unnecessary appears to be very much a minority position.) The first case is that in which intervention is deemed to be the only means of ending massive and sustained abuse of human rights. (The claim that intervention is justified to avert an anticipated humanitarian disaster is much more controversial.) The second case is that where intervention (usually to achieve regime-change) is deemed to be essential to self-defence, that is, where it is believed to be necessary to pre-empt imminent and devastating aggression. Both of these doctrines are, of course, open to gross abuse. There is also, thirdly, some support for the claim that intervention is justified where it is a counter-intervention in a civil war designed to restore the balance between the internal parties upset by an initial outside intervention. Intervention is distinguishable from annexation. See also sovereignty; sphere of influence. |
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