Journal Article

International Rescue and Mediated Consequences

Dobos, Ned

2012

Overview

It is generally assumed that, when judging the proportionality of a humanitarian intervention, the relevant costs that must be factored into the equation are not only those brought about directly and immediately, but also those brought about via the interceding agency of other parties; the mediated consequences. Here I want to challenge that assumption. First, I argue that rebels fighting off an oppressive regime cannot reasonably be held to a standard of proportionality under which mediated consequences count fully in the calculus. Given this, I ask whether we can justify holding international rescuers – using similar means in pursuit of similar ends – to a more stringent standard. If the answer is yes, then curiously it turns out that an intervention might fail to satisfy the principle of proportionality despite its expected costs and consequences being identical to those of an insurrection which is rightly judged to satisfy that principle. I argue, however, that every attempt to justify the asymmetry has shortcomings. If this is right, then the standard of proportionality to which we hold states or coalitions engaged in armed international rescue operations should be reviewed and, arguably, relaxed.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press,Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs
• Subject: Agency / Ethical aspects / Features / Human Rights / Humanitarian aid / Humanitarian Intervention / HUMANITARIAN LAW / Humanitarianism / Incentives / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / Intervention / REVOLUTION / Self-interest / Sovereignty / Wages / WAR