DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN (IMPERIALIST) INTERVENTION: THE CASES OF UKRAINE AND LIBYA

Year 2024, Volume: 18 Issue: 36, 205 - 222, 04.05.2024

Irina Tkachuk , Özgür Tüfekçi

https://doi.org/10.18220/kid.1478509

Abstract

The problem of the role and place of peacekeeping, including humanitarian intervention in the modern system of international order, deserves attention because it has practical application in international relations. Humanitarianism is a contentious notion, especially when it involves military action and results in casualties. The dispute surrounding humanitarian intervention arises from the issue of determining the optimal moment for action. There are many who contend that there is never an opportune moment to interfere, but others assert that it is our moral obligation to safeguard individuals who lack the ability to defend themselves. The act of safeguarding individuals who lack the ability to defend themselves is inherently dignified. Nevertheless, historical evidence has demonstrated that humanitarian action may be driven by hidden agendas.
This paper highlights the military interventions that take place in the contemporary world. Using two case studies, the article addresses the main problems arising from different interpretations of the definition of humanitarian (imperialist) intervention. Thus, using the cases of Libya and Ukraine, the article emphasises that the concept of humanitarian intervention has changed from military intervention for humanitarian purposes to military intervention in which the interventionist states pursue their own geopolitical or economic goals.

Keywords

Humanitarian Intervention, USA, Imperialism, Ukraine, United Nations, Russia, Libya

İNSANİ (EMPERYALIST) MÜDAHALENİN FARKLI YORUMLARI: UKRAYNA VE LİBYA ÖRNEKLERİ

Abstract

Modern uluslararası ilişkiler sisteminde insani müdahale de dahil olmak üzere barışı korumanın rolü ve yeri sorunu, her şeyden önce pratik bir uygulamaya sahip olduğu için dikkati çekmekte ve bu nedenle de çalışılmayı hak etmektedir. İnsani yardım, özellikle askeri müdahale içerdiğinde ve ölümlerle sonuçlandığında tartışmalı bir kavrama dönüşmektedir. İnsani müdahaleyle ilgili temel anlaşmazlık, müdahale için en uygun anın belirlenmesinden kaynaklanmaktadır. Bir taraftan bazıları müdahalenin hiçbir zaman uygun olmadığını iddia ederken, diğerleri kendilerini savunma yeteneğinden yoksun bireyleri korumanın ahlaki yükümlü-lüğümüz olduğunu iddia etmektedirler. Kendisini savunma yeteneği olmayan bireyleri koruma eylemi, doğası gereği onurludur. Yine de, tarih bize göster-mektedir ki insani müdahaleler gizli gündemler tarafından yönlendirilebilmektedir. Bu bağlamda, bu makale, modern dünyada gerçekleşen askeri müdahalelerin altını çizmektedir. Makale, özellikle insani (emperyalist) müdahale tanımının farklı yorumlarından kaynaklanan temel sorunlarına vaka çalışması kullanarak değinmektedir. Böylece makale, Libya ve Ukrayna örneklerini kullanarak, insani müdahale kavramının, insani amaçlarla askeri müdahaleden, müdahaleci devletlerin kendi jeopolitik veya ekonomik hedeflerinin peşinden gittiği askeri müdahaleye dönüştüğünü vurgulamaktadır.
İnsani Müdahale, ABD, Emperyalizm, Ukrayna, Birleşmiş Milletler, Rusya, Libya

Keywords

ABD, Emperyalizm, Ukrayna, Birleşmiş Milletler, Rusya, Libya, insani müdahale

References

• 24Tv. War in Donbas: How many we lost? Retrieved from 24tv: https://24tv.ua/viyna_na_donbasi_v_oon_ozvuchili_kilkist_zagiblih_vid_pochatku_konfliktu_n1100031, 2019.
• ABIEW, F., Evolution of Doctrine and Practice of Humanitarian Interventions. Hague: Kluwer Law International, 1999.
• ANTOKOLSKY, A. “NATO against Yugoslavia, the Bombing of Civilian Objects”, General Military Problems-ZVO-7/2000, Retrieved from: https://commi.narod.ru/txt/2000/0702.htm, 2000.
• BAYRAM, D. C. and TUFEKCI, O., “Turkey’s Black Sea Vision and Its Dynamics’, Journal of the Black Sea Studies, 15(57), 2018, pp. 1-16.
• BELL, J. R., Libya Crisis: Wishful Thinking Still İsn't a Viable Strategy, Comparative Strategy, 35:2, pp. 139-153, DOI: 10.1080/01495933.2016.1176464, 2016.
• BUSH, R., Martiniello, G., & Mercer, C., Humanitarian İmperialism, Review of African Political Economy, 38, 2011, pp. 357 - 365.
• CHERNICHENKO, S. Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues in Modern Diplomacy. Moscow 2008.
• CHIVERS, C. A., ‘In strikes on Libya by NATO, an unspoken civilian toll. Retrieved from The New York Times: Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/ 2011/12/18/world/africa/scores-of-unintended-casualties-in-nato-war-in-libya.html, 2011.
• CHOMSKY, N., Humanitarian Imperialism: The New Doctrine of Imperial Right, Oxford University Press, 2010.
• COBRAN, J., “Humanist or Imperialist? Humanitarian Interventionism in the Post-Cold War Era”, Ed. Maximilian C. Forte The New Imperialism: Interventionism, Information Warfare, and the Military-Academic Complex, Alert Press, Montreal, 2011, pp.115-128.
• DAG, R., “Geopolitical Struggle between Russia and Turkey: The Intersection of Ukraine and Syrian Crises”, The Rest: Journal of Politics and Development, 12/2, 2022, pp. 150-161.
• DE WAAL, A. and OMAAR, R., “Can Military Intervention Be ‘Humanitarian’?” Middle East Report, Vol: 187/188, 1994.
• DOUZINAS, C., The End of Human Rights. Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2000.
• EVANS, G., Responsibility to Protect, Retrieved From NATO Review: https://www.nato.int/docu/review/2002/issue4/english/analysis.html, 2002.
• FYODOROV, I., About hummanitarian konvoi. Retrieved from BK55.ru (official information agency), Retrieved from: https://bk55.ru/news/article/ 37027/?source=, 2014.
• HOLZGREFE, J. L., “Humanitarian Intervention”, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2003.
• HOLZGREFE, J. L., & KEOHANE, R. Humanitarian Intervention: Ethical, Legal and Political Dilemmas, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2003.
• HUMPHREY, M., Humanitarianism, Terrorism and the Transnational Border. Social Analysis: The International Journal of Social and Cultural Practice, 46(1), pp.118–124. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23170137, 2002.
• KHOKHLYSHEVA, O. "The world of dignity and illusion of peacemaking". Retrieved from: http://www.dslib.net/pravo-evropy/mehanizm-mezhdunarodno-pravovogo-regulirovanija-operacij-oon-po- podderzhaniju-mira.html, Moscow 2000.
• KIVI, R. Humanitarian intervention or imperial ambitions? Retrieved from: https://rus.postimees.ee/569060/gumanitarnaya-intervenciya-ili-imperskie-ambicii, 2011.
• KOSE, I., “Russia’s New Irredentist Foreign Policy Approach & Energy Card”, Karadeniz Araştırmaları Enstitüsü Dergisi, 2/2, 2016, pp. 42-63.
• Kremlin, The official website of the President of the Russian Federation. Retrieved from: http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/60429, 2019.
• MACFARLANE, S. N. Intervention in Contemporary World Politics, Routledge, London 2002.
• MACFARQUHAR, M. S. and SIMONS, M., Hague Court Seek Warrants For Libyan officials’, Retrieved from New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/ 05/05/world/africa/05nations.html, 2011.
• MID, Speech by the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN VI Churkin at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine, New York, 24 June 2014. Retrieved from: https://mid.ru/ru/foreignpolicy/un/vystupleniya_zayavleniya/1614896/? TSPD_101_R0=08765fb817ab2000f17b5d6a2fc9ba8b7f737b579e43a7b65c2b5fbade2d2a0b7a08542c625afca608afda1d93143000b4c1b45493248533d8fbc8f90d2802b339add1b6bdae609f19e76dcb7f00e5730 8fe8411c86d5b9e917aa19141d04440, 2014.
• MILNE, S. If the Libyan war was about saving lives, it was a catastrophic failure’. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/ commentisfree/2011/oct/26/libya-war-saving-lives-catastrophic- failure, 2011.
• OK, E. and TUFEKCI, O., “Effect of Cases on the Rivalry Between National Sovereignty and Intervention”, Ed. Özgür Tüfekçi and Rahman Dag, Trends and Transformation in World Politics, London 2022.
• OZDEMIR, S. & EMINOGLU, A., “Understanding the New War in the Modern Age: An Assessment on The Russia–Ukraine War”, Karadeniz Araştırmaları, XX/79, 2023, pp. 559-584.
• POLYANSKAYA, Y., Yanukovich's letter to the President of Russia. Retrieved from: Crimea, Reality: https://ru.krymr.com/a/28679423.html, 2017.
• RadioSvoboda, Russia calls.,The big interview of V. Putin, Retrieved from: Radio Svoboda: https://www.svoboda.org/a/28048368.html, 2016.
• RIA, New passports for Donbas. Retrieved from DW/ Made for minds. Retrieved from: https://www.dw.com/ru/%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80% D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B5-%D1%83%D0%B3%D1%80, 2019.
• SMIRNOV, S., Putin: We are not considering the option of annexing Crimea. Vedomosti. Retrieved from: https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2014/ 03/04/putin-nachal-press-konfernenciyu, 2014.
• TESON, F. R., The Liberal Case of Humanitarian Intervention. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2003.
• The United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, Letter Dated 9 November 2011 from the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations Addressed to the Secretary-General (A/66/551– S/2011/701).
• TUFEKCI, O., “Can War Ever Be Ethical? Perspectives On Just War Theory and The Humanitarian Intervention Concept”, Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Vol: 32, No: 4, 2018, pp. 1217-1229.
• UNHCR, Operational Data Portal. Retrieved from: https://data.unhcr.org/en/ situations/mediterranean/location/5205, 2023.
• VOROBYOVA, I., “The War in Libya: Another Oil”, Direct Investments, 2011, (4), pp. 8-9.
• WELLER, M., Crimea and international law. Retrieved from: https://www. bbc.com/russian/international/2014/03/140309_crimea_international_l, 2014.