Military intervention and humanitarian action: trends and issues

Area of Science:

• Military Science
• International Relations
• Security Studies

Background:

• Military doctrine is evolving to encompass peace support operations within a spectrum of coercion and enforcement.
• British military writers are key drivers in shaping doctrine and consensus among leading military powers.
• There is a growing trend towards strategic subcontracting to coalitions for military operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the evolution of British military doctrine concerning peace support operations.
• To examine the discourse and consensus-building efforts among leading military powers.
• To identify contradictions within the institutionalization of military involvement in relief, peacebuilding, and development.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of British military doctrine writings.
• Discourse analysis of key debates and consensus-building processes.
• Case study analysis, exemplified by operations in Bosnia.

Main Results:

• Military doctrine for peace support operations is increasingly combat-oriented and includes coercion/enforcement.
• Institutionalization of military roles in humanitarian relief and peacebuilding is evident.
• The emphasis on stability and security, using tools like conditionality and economic leverage, presents contradictions.
• These trends risk eroding classical humanitarian principles in peace operations.

Conclusions:

• The integration of coercion and enforcement into peace support operations presents a significant departure from traditional peacekeeping.
• The institutionalization of military involvement in diverse activities creates inherent contradictions.
• The pursuit of stability and security may inadvertently undermine humanitarian principles, necessitating careful consideration and re-evaluation.