International Intervention

National sovereignty, defined as a nation's right to exercise its own law and practise over its territory, is a cherished norm in the modern era, and yet it raises great legal, political and ethical dilemmas. Should sovereignty be respected under all conditions, or are there instances in which interference in a state's internal affairs becomes not only a right, but a duty? What responsibility do striking violations of international norms committed within a sovereign state pose to the international community? What constitutes an international "community" in this regard, and under what conditions and restraints should it intervene? What should be the role of domestic forces and international bodies in defining the need to intervene and how can justified intervention be distinguished from sheer breach of sovereignty?
Since the end of the Cold War, these questions have shifted from the realm of theory to the domain of practice. Policy makers all over the world are haunted by the sovereignty versus responsibility dilemma, which lies at the core of the emerging international order, and may be expected to become even more central in the future. This study is distinguished by its interdisciplinary nature, as well as by a balance between scholarly approaches and humanitarian concerns. It is presented with a sense of urgency enhanced by recent events in Kosovo, East Timor and elsewhere, which brought to bear the tragedy, complexities and difficulties of intervention.