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Nov 21, 2009, 11:49am

Message Board :: International :: Third World Issues :: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"

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Topic: Response To "Paradox of Intervention" (Read 153 times)

Res Publica
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Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Thread Started on Jul 3, 2008, 2:04pm »

Ryan

I would like to respond to Mike's post, "The paradox of intervention." Though I acknowledge that foreign intervention is tricky and often has both pros and cons, I believe the most important consideration should be the true incentive behind it.

The definition of intervention, as well as the grounds for it, are not clear. Industrialized nations often intervene in the name of human rights or some other honorable cause in order to simply advance their own interests. America, for example, holds an embargo against Cuba supposedly because it is a Communist country that violates human rights. Meanwhile, it trades freely with Communist Vietnam. Also, the US invaded Iraq because it was undemocratic and violated human rights. Why did we choose Iraq instead of Darfur or Myanmar? These cases of hypocrisy prove that intervention often has nothing to do with the stated objective.

Intervention is often just a show put on by the industrialized nations to improve their image. Take Myanmer, for example. The US has trade sanctions against the country; with the exception of its two biggest industries, gems and lumber. Although trade sanctions against dictatorships often do hurt the lower classes, in Burma almost all of the country's revenue goes to militarization regardless. The US simply does not have the Burmese people's interests at heart. The sanctions are a show.

The same goes for coups. In the Cold War the CIA overthrew numerous democratically-elected leaders and inserted dictators that catered to US interests; from Chile to Iran.

Even the international financial community is guilty of unjust intervention. The IMF uses its power as top lender to the Third World to force "sturctural adjustment programs" that are often harmful to the receiving nation but are favors to Wall Street and the US Treasury. They say, however, that these "reforms" are designed to benefit the targeted nation.

The bottom line is that we should be carefully analyzing not just the methods of intervention but the reasons behind them. Too often imperialism wears the cloak of righteousness. Keep this in mind as you hear talk about invading Iran.

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Res Publica
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #1 on Jul 3, 2008, 4:22pm »

Nick

I have to agree with Ryan here. To summarize what I think Ryan is saying is that intervention is only a paradox inasmuch as we're taking the assumption that intervening governments have pure, altruistic intent. Many of what we consider the negative impacts of intervention are considered collateral damage to those countries who profit from the exchange. Consider Iraq. The paradox is not so much in the unfolding of negative events or consequences but rather in the use of the word intervention in comparison to true, unstated objectives such as profit.

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mattwill
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #2 on Jul 10, 2008, 6:39pm »

So where is the original to which you are replying?

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dissentispatriotic
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #3 on Jul 10, 2008, 9:28pm »

www.proper-ganda.org :]

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jimmy
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #4 on Jul 12, 2008, 11:32pm »

Jul 3, 2008, 2:04pm, Res Publica wrote:

Ryan
Too often imperialism wears the cloak of righteousness. Keep this in mind as you hear talk about invading Iran.

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mattwill
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #5 on Jul 23, 2008, 10:14pm »

Oh, right. Nick was harping on the message boards so heavily that I forgot there was a main page.

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FREER
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #6 on Apr 3, 2009, 1:22am »

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FRERE
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #7 on Apr 3, 2009, 1:36am »

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GTHY
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #8 on Apr 3, 2009, 1:39am »

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FREER
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #9 on Apr 3, 2009, 1:40am »

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VS
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Re: Response To "Paradox of Intervention"
« Reply #10 on Jul 15, 2009, 11:01pm »

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