Managing conflict after the cold war

Abstract

The Cold War has ended and with it the effect of its protectorate policies. The new challenges brought about by the deterioration of the environment and the “governance deficit” mean that internal conflicts will continue to erupt worldwide for the foreseeable future. And the questions of why, how, and when to intervene are becoming a real dilemma for the international community. There is no doubt in most minds that armed intervention is justified in special circumstances. In the case of blatant aggression, for instance, the international community is entitled to act, and Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter gives it that right. The most recent case was the Iraqi aggression against Kuwait. The problem here, however, is the prevailing suspicion that the powerful members of the Security Council might be applying a double standard—hence some legitimate doubt and the need to devise safeguards. We will put it on record for the debate. There is also a consensus in the international community that the traditional peac...