Sovereign Intervention

The report examines the shift in international norms where state sovereignty is increasingly balanced against the protection of human rights. It analyzes the rise of 'neo-interventionism' in Africa, the transition of NATO from a defensive alliance to a regional security actor in the Balkans, and the persistence of stubborn states like Iraq and Algeria that resist external interference. The authors argue that while the non-intervention norm has weakened, interventions must be grounded in specific case-by-case duties and multilateral authorization to avoid the abuse of power.

• The concept of sovereignty is not in absolute decline but is undergoing a shift where it is increasingly viewed as implying responsibility toward citizens rather than just power.
• Forcible humanitarian intervention in the 1990s reflects a change in views about sovereignty, though no settled international legal framework for such actions exists.
• In the Balkans, NATO has evolved from a collective defense alliance into a broad security organization, moving toward 'neo-interventionism' by authorizing action in Kosovo without a UN mandate.
• The UNTAES operation in Eastern Slavonia serves as an example of 'managed change' or 'benign occupation,' where the UN exercised transitional authority to reintegrate the region into Croatia while protecting human rights.
• Civil wars typically end through a synergy of internal dynamics—such as military exhaustion or victory—and external interventions, but no standard institutional response fits all contexts.
• In the Middle East, states like Iraq and Algeria demonstrate that highly repressive regimes can remain resilient and resistant to direct international intervention despite blatant human rights abuses.
• A trend of 'neo-interventionism' has emerged in Africa, characterized by military interventions by neighbors or subregional organizations (like SADC and ECOWAS) that take the side of one party and often bypass UN Security Council authorization.
• Neo-interventionism in Africa is primarily justified by two arguments: the need for collective security against foreign invasion and the prevention of unconstitutional changes of government.
• The 'securitization' of human rights can be beneficial by bringing urgent attention to atrocities, but it risks an over-reliance on military solutions over political ones.

APA

McDermott, A., Baev, P. K., de Coning, C., Eide, E. B., Ginifer, J., Graeger, N., Ronnfeldt, C. F., Thune, H., & Smith, D. (1999). Sovereign Intervention. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/833a3635-da1f-46c6-8008-0ce05241b54b/McDermott ed 1999 Sovereign Intervention PRIO Report 2-99.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

McDermott, Anthony, Pavel K. Baev, Cedric de Coning, Espen Barth Eide, Jeremy Ginifer, Nina Graeger, Carsten F. Ronnfeldt, Henrik Thune, and Dan Smith. Sovereign Intervention. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 1999. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/833a3635-da1f-46c6-8008-0ce05241b54b/McDermott ed 1999 Sovereign Intervention PRIO Report 2-99.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{mcdermott1999sovereign, author = {McDermott, Anthony and Baev, Pavel K. and de Coning, Cedric and Eide, Espen Barth and Ginifer, Jeremy and Graeger, Nina and Ronnfeldt, Carsten F. and Thune, Henrik and Smith, Dan}, title = {{Sovereign Intervention}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {1999}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/833a3635-da1f-46c6-8008-0ce05241b54b/McDermott ed 1999 Sovereign Intervention PRIO Report 2-99.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }