UNIT 4 AOS 2 AC ASPECTS

Question 1

Intervention

Answer 1

Intervention:
- Intervention can exacerbate the crisis of armed conflict as the stakes are raised when more global actors involve themselves in the conflict. This is showcased through the Saudi-led coalition intervening in the Yemen civil war in March 2015 with the goals of restoring the internationally recognised government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and countering Houthi Rebels. However, this effort only exacerbated the situation, involving Iran, who backed the Houthi Rebels to retaliate and turn the conflict into a proxy war, developing Yemen as a battleground, causing immense humanitarian crisis with over 21 million (2/3rd of population) requiring humanitarian aid. Ultimately it showcases how intervention can be a response to armed conflict

• UN Peacekeeping mission: (Peace talks, UNSC resolution 2216 and 245, Stockholm Agreement 2018)
• The UN’s response to the global crisis of armed conflict in Yemen involved facilitating the Stockholm Agreement in December 2018. This agreement aimed to establish a ceasefire in Hodeidah, a key port for humanitarian aid. The UN played a critical role in negotiating a prisoner swap to build trust between the warring parties, although delays occurred due to disagreements on prisoner numbers and logistics. The ceasefire enabled safe access for aid ships, crucial for the 80% of Yemen’s 30 million people dependent on humanitarian support. Despite reducing violence in Hodeidah, the agreement was frequently breached, and intermittent fighting persisted. The UN’s efforts were effective in facilitating aid but faced challenges in ensuring long-term peace and compliance.

Question 2

War as an instrument to state policy

Answer 2

• War as an instrument to state policy can be a major cause and response of armed conflict. This is exemplified through the Russia-Ukraine conflict which escalated in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, with prominent areas being Crimea and Donetsk, under Putin’s governing, labelling the act as a “special military operation” to prevent Ukraine’s alignment with NATO and assert control over the region. This decision led to a major conflict with over 470,000 casualties, millions of refugees, and a severe humanitarian crisis, displaying the consequences of using war to pursue policy objectives

Question 3

Prosecuting war crimes in international law

Answer 3

• Prosecuting war crimes in international law serves as a deterrence and accountability measure (resolution) as shown through the prosecution of Anwar Raslan a former Syrian intelligence officer, who was in charge of overseeing the torture, murder, and abuse of detainees during the Syrian civil war. Anwar defected from the Syrian regime in 2012 and sought asylum in Germany in 2014, but however, his past actions were disclosed and arrested in 2019. He was trialled in 2022 in Germany and sentenced to life in prison. This demonstrates that international justice can reach even high-ranking officials, regardless of where the crimes were committed. This can help prevent future atrocities by creating a legal and moral precedent. Ultimately this showcases how prosecuting war crimes in international law can be a response to armed conflict