International law & the use of force
Should Military Intervention Ever Be Justified on Humanitarian Grounds?
LNAT Section B · Founder's essay plan
The essay question
Should military intervention ever be justified on humanitarian grounds?
The plan
Stance
For, but only exceptionally and under strict conditions. Special duties to one's citizens do not erase a general, non-derogable duty to prevent mass atrocity once objective thresholds are crossed. To be justified, intervention must satisfy a decision-rule (just cause; last resort; right authority; proportionality; reasonable prospect; strict exit & accountability). Selectivity is a problem of institutional design, not a defeater of the norm.
- Jurisdictional focus: UN Charter (Arts 2(4), 51), ICISS Responsibility to Protect (2001), World Summit Outcome (2005, paras 138–139), UNSC practice (Kosovo 1999, Libya 2011, Rwanda 1994), GA Uniting for Peace (377(V)), ICC/ICTY/ICTR, ECHR extraterritoriality (Al-Skeini).
- Word budget: 750.
Definitions (stance-aware)
Read the full plan
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