This book explores the contradictions in Britain’s humanitarian and military intervention in Libya and Syria, beginning with the Arab spring in 2010.
The book assesses the contradictions between the expressed humanitarian intentions of British military interveners and the impact of their actions on the putative beneficiary states. It demonstrates that, as a result of foreign intervention, both Libya and Syria were rendered non-functional as unitary nations and suffered extensive harm to their people and infrastructure. To evaluate the effectiveness and credibility of humanitarian warfare, the author conducts a thematic analysis of debates on Libya and Syria in the House of Commons. The book provides a detailed study of intentions and motives expressed by Members of Parliament, of consequent British state actions and their outcomes, and of MPs’ reactions to outcomes. It provides ample evidence of duplicity, insincerity, indifference to harm, and ulterior motives for violence that undermine moral claims and support the argument that, although humanitarian warfare may be possible, the leading Western activist states (Britain, France, and the USA) are poorly qualified to carry it out.
Illustrating a systemic failure of strategy and accountability in British foreign policy, this book will be of interest to scholars and graduates of Humanitarian Studies, International Relations and Military Studies.
Author(s): Aran M. Lewis
Series: Routledge Humanitarian Studies
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 234
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Information
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Research Data
Table of Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
1 Introduction and Research Method
Introduction
The Research Method
Notes
References
2 Five Centuries of Humanitarian Intervention
Notes
References
3 The Libya Debates
Top Five Themes: Variation Over Four Years
Year 1 (2010–11)
Year 2 (2011–12)
Year 3 (2012–13)
Year 4 (2013–14)
Notes
References
4 Regime Change in Libya
Notes
References
5 The Syria Debates
Top Five Themes: Variation Over Four Years
Year 1 (2010–11)
Year 2 (2011–12)
Year 3 (2012–13)
Year 4 (2013–14)
Notes
References
6 Regime Change in Syria
Notes
References
7 Libya and Syria Theme Comparison
Theme Differences Ranked 1–20
1: WMD (Negative)
2: Humanitarian Aid
3: Refugees From Enemy State, Cause of Flight Not Specified; 5: Refugees, UK Government Admittance
4: Peaceful Resolution
6: Escalation Policy; 6: Rebel Unity/Discord
7: Leadership = Regime
8: UNSC Mandate Present
9: Doubt Intervention Will Help
10: House of Commons Debate and Vote
11: No-Fly Zone
12: Geneva Process
13: Military Intervention – Caution
14: Humanitarian Aid – UK Lead; 15: Humanitarian Crisis
16: Russia Anti-Intervention
17: Children
18: Sectarian/Ethnic Conflict
19: UK Backing Opposition/Rebels
20: Islamist Takeover
Notes
References
8 Credibility of Humanitarian Warfare
Notes
References
9 Conclusions
Notes
References
Index
