[(The Purpose of Intervention: Changing Beliefs About the Use of Force)] [Author: Martha Finnemore] published on

by Martha Finnemore

人们持有的有关武力使用的信念如何影响了武力在世界政治中的作用？自冷战结束以来，这一问题对国际关系理论家来说显得日益重要和紧迫。1989年以来大国的军事行动总是选择战争。国家把军队派到巴尔干、索马里、东帝汶和中东并非出于必要性；他们之所以要派遣军队是因为他们相信那是对的或善的，而不是因为他们必须这样做。但这些信念来自何处呢？武力使用和武力威胁使用是人类社会中长期存在的现象。本书考察了一种武力形式——军事干涉，以此提示了国际社会的变迁。作者认为，四个多世纪以来，国家为何进行军事干涉与国家如何进行军事干涉，二者都发生了明显的变化，这反映了国家对武力能够做什么、应该做什么的共有理解发生了变化。芬尼莫尔着眼于三种类型的干预：收债、解决人道主义危机，以及对被视为国际和平的威胁的国家采取行动。 在这三者中她发现，现在被认为是“显而易见”的东西在早期阶段由于明确与合乎逻辑的原因而受到人们的强烈质疑甚至拒绝。 广泛的历史视角使她能够阐明长期趋势：国际政治中力量规范价值的不断削弱；平等规范在全球政治生活的许多方面日益增长的影响；以及法律在干预实践中日益增加的重要性。

Genres: International Relations, Politics, Political Science, Nonfiction

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[notabattlechick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finnemore offers an excellent introduction to constructivist approaches to IR theory by exploring three cases where the international norms and ideas about the use of force (intervention) have changed over time. The three cases - sovereign debt, humanitarian crisis, and the preservation of international order - offer three uniqe ways of looking at the problem. Unlike some political science case-based studies, Finnemore does not lock herself into a specific or single methodology. Each of the cases is grounded in historical context and IR theory. Each case offers a puzzle to be solved, and in each one Finnemore offers a plausible and interesting, if arguable, explanation. The chapter on "preserving international order" was the most interesting and the most provocative, as it takes on realist interpretations of international affiars, fairly head-on by suggesting material factors and the distribution of power are not, in fact, what drive decisions for intervention. Overall, an excellent read, appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate students. Did I mention the book has footnotes instead of the ubiquitous, but more difficult to use, endnotes. Kudos to the publisher for realizing citations are an integral part of an academic work and not relegating it to the back of the book, where the extra effort required for flipping pages and finding the right citation usually means they go unread.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really 4.5 stars, but I really enjoyed the constructivist ideas of how the ideas of intervention actions evolved. Additionally, the cascading effects of the images' 1-2 influences on the overall international system, and then the reinforcing actions of image 3 on its actions through an evolution of appropriate action.

[Annabel Hertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I have written a lengthy review on Amazon that can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Interv...)

Overall, The Purpose of Intervention is a 'must read' for scholars and general audiences. It's an excellent book that challenges conventional wisdom about the rationale for the use of force and demonstrates that in addition to serving stated justifications and material objectives, intervention policies also serve social purposes. Analysts can therefore build upon Finnemore's work, and her mix of methodology, to shape inquiry into major IR issues. Her use of discourse analysis in tandem with cases that serve to identify mechanisms and processes of change provide a rich context for understanding international change, and a compelling argument for constructivism.

[Kellsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book and it had some interesting ideas, I just don’t know that I was expecting the direction it went in