An appraisal of the doctrine of non-intervention in international law

Project Abstract

<p> Under the Charter of the United Nations, intervention is absolutely prohibited in matters that are purely domestic to states. However, notwithstanding this general rule of non-intervention, there are happenings that though purely internal to states, have the capability to threaten international peace and security. The United Nations Charter has recognized these happening as worthy justification for intervention. Examples are self defence and authorization by the UN Security Council. Other exceptions have been created under customary international law such as humanitarian intervention, etc However, within the last 69 years so many events have happened as a result of which the rule of nonintervention has been widely breached majority of which could be justified on grounds of economic, cultural, social and political imperatives. Therefore, the task of this thesis is to examine states practice as it affects the principle of non-intervention by creating diplomatic, political and economic problems throughout the globe. It is against this background that this research tries to analyse modern practice of states at international law to see that to what extent the principle of non-intervention has been abused. To achieve this, a doctrinal method of research was adopted. After analysing the principle of non-intervention, the research concludes that the principle is meant to protect and preserve the territorial integrity, political independence and sovereign equality of states. Consequently, all forms of illegal interventions constitute violation of the Charter of the UN. However, it is found that states still intervene illegally in many parts of the world. It is recommended that some coherence be brought in to the principle of nonintervention and the application of the exceptions to the principle be carefully defined. <br></p>

Project Overview

<p> Declaration………………………………………………………………………………………………….. i Certification…………………………………………………………………………………………………. i Dedication……………………………………………………………………………………………………. iii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………………… iv Abstracts……………………………………………………………………………………………………. vi Tables of Cases………………………………………………………………………………………….. vii Tables of Statutes ……………………………………………………………….. viii List of Journals……………………………………………………………………………………………. x Abbreviations…………………………………………………………………………………………….. xi Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………………………. xii CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study……………………………………………………………………… 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ………………………………………………………………….. 3 .3 Aims and objectives of the Study………………………………………………………… 5 1.4 Scope of the Study…………………………………………………………………… 5 1.5 Literature Review……………………………………………………………………………….. 5 1.6 Justification ……………………………………………….. 11 1.7 Methodology ……………………………………………………… 12 1.8 Organisational Layout…………………………………………………………………………. 13 CHAPTER TWO: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRINCIPLE OF NONINTERVENTION 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 2.1.1 Meaning of Non-Intervention…………………………………………………………………. 16 2.1.2 Historical Development of the Principle of Non-intervention ……………………… 17 2.2 Sources of the Law of Non-intervention………………………………………………….. 25 2.2.1 United Nations Charter…………………………………………………………………………. 25 2.2.2 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2131………………………………….. 26 2.2.3 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2625…………………………………. 28 2.2.4 Case Law…………………………………………………………………………………………… 29 2.2.5 Customary International Law…………………………………………………………………. 30 2.2.6 Opinio Juris …………………………………………………………………………………….. 30 2.3. The Interpretation of Domestic Jurisdiction……………………………………………… 30 2.3.2 Some Reasons for Intervention……………………………………………………………… 31 2.4. The Idea of Sovereignty of State…………………………………………………………… 32 2.4.2 The Concept of Sovereignty…………………………………………………………………. 33 2.4.3 Non-Intervention and The Doctrine of Sovereignty…………………………………. 35 2.4.4 The Concept of Sovereignty and Contemporary World………………………… 38 2.5 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………….. 43 CHAPTER THREE: THE MODERN CONCEPT OF THE PRINCIPLE OF NONINTERVENTION 3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….. 45 3.2 The Modern Concept of Intervention…………………………………………………… 48 3.2.1 Political Pressure……………………………………………………………………………. 48 3.2.2 Economic Pressure………………………………………………………………………… 52 3.2.3 Democratic Revolution…………………………………………………………………….. 56 3.2.4 Humanitarian Assistance………………………………………………………………….. 59 3.2.5 Ideological or Moral Value…………………………………………………………………. 62 3.2.6 Supply of Funds………………………………………………………………………………. 65 3.2.7 Provision of Statistics and Logistics……………………………………………………. 67 3.2.8 Economic Sanctions……………………………………………………………………….. 68 3.2.9 Intervention to Assist Modernisation………………………………………………….. 70 3.3 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………. 73 CHAPTER FOUR: EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE OF NON-INTERVENTION 4.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………… 74 4.2 Prohibition of Intervention………………………………………………………………………. 77 4.3 Anticipatory Self-Defence……………………………………………………………………… 79 4.4 Intervention through Authorization of the UN General Assembly……………….. 84 4.5. Claims to other Exceptions………………………………………………………………….. 90 4.5.1 Intervention for the Protection of the lives and Property of Nationals………… 91 4.5.2 Intervention by Request……………………………………………………………………….. 100 4.5.3 Humanitarian Intervention…………………………………………………………………… 102 (a) Indian Intervention in Pakistan, 1971………………………………………………………104 (b) Tanzania Intervention in Uganda, 1979……………………………………………….. 105 (c) Vietnamese Intervention in Cambodia…………………………………………………… 106 (d) Allied Forces Intervention in Iraq, 1991………………………………………………… 106 (e) France Intervention in Mali 2013…………………………………………………………… 107 (f) NATO Intervention in Libya 2011…………………………………………………………….108 (g) France Intervention in Cote D‟Ivoire 2011………………………………………………. 110 (h) France Intervention in Central African Republic 2013…………………………………111 4.5.3.1 Comment………………………………………………………………………………………… 112 4.5.4 Intervention to Enforce Provision of a Treaty………………………………………… 115 4.5.4.1 The Turkish Intervention in Cyprus, 1974…………………………………………….. 115 4.5.5 Intervention in support of Democracy (Reagan Doctrine)………………………. 117 4.5.6 Intervention/Non-intervention in the Post-Cold War Period……………………. 120 4.5.6.1 (i) Intervention in Haiti and Liberia……………………………………………………… 120 4.5.7 Intervention in the Fight Against Terrorism…………………………………………… 125 4.6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….. 126 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………. 128 5.2 Summary of the Principle of Non-Intervention……………………………………… 128 5.3 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………. 129 5.4 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………….. 134 6.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………………… 137 <br></p>