Ethics of humanitarian interventions

Humanitarian interventions evoke images of aid, such as sanitary goods and soup kitchens, but the focus here is on military actions framed as humanitarian intervention-wars. The text explores critical questions: (I) When does military force qualify as a humanitarian intervention? What are its humanitarian aspects, occasions, motives, and both alleged and actual consequences? (II) At what point are these interventions morally justifiable, especially if they breach international law? (III) Specifically, was the Kosovo war in 1999, characterized by over 37,000 bombing missions, truly justifiable as a humanitarian intervention? Many believed it was at the time; however, does that belief hold up under retrospective scrutiny? What lessons can we draw from the successes or failures of this intervention? This volume addresses these complex issues, delving into semantics (part I), moral assessments (part II), and the implications of the Kosovo war (part III). It features insights from international experts in philosophy, law, sociology, and peace studies who engaged in rigorous debate over these pressing questions.