Abstract
M.A. (Politics)
This dissertation is an exercise of the application of two contrasting International Relations (IR) theories to explain a political event, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO’s) intervention in Libya during the 2011 Libyan uprisings. This intervention by the NATO authorised by the United Nations (UN), proved instrumental in the ousting of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s 41-year old regime. The NATO intervention was a notable decision given the fact that Libya became the only Arab country to experience a direct intervention endorsed by the international community. The purpose of this comparative theoretical analysis of the NATO intervention in Libya is to provide contending explanations regarding NATO’s motives for intervening in Libya. The NATO intervention is analysed from both a normative theory perspective, as well as through a realism lens, with the ultimate aim being that of identifying the IR theory that proffers the most persuasive explanation as to why NATO decided to intervene in Libya. Literature analysis is the research methodology used throughout the dissertation.
Normative theory identifies three instances where intervention in another state’s domestic affairs can be justified or legitimised: if there is a treaty that permits such an intervention; if a particular state is creating intolerable difficulties for its neighbouring states; and if a certain state grossly undermines and violates the human rights and dignity of its citizens. The normative theory-based analysis of the NATO intervention (chapter 4) advances a view that the NATO intervention in Libya was justified because it was in response to a humanitarian crisis created by the Gaddafi regime. The normative theory-based analysis postulates that the atrocities committed by Gaddafi regime, in its efforts to suppress the Libyan mass protests and the subsequent civil war from the 15th of February until the 16th of March 2011 (when the UN authorised the NATO intervention), qualifies the NATO intervention to be regarded as a humanitarian intervention that also meets the UN’s criteria of a typical ‘Responsibility to Protect (R2P)’ intervention. Such atrocities committed by the Gaddafi regime included crimes against humanity and war crimes. The evidence of atrocities committed by Gaddafi regime’s presented in chapter 4, wherein the normative theory-based analysis of the NATO intervention is outlined, gives credibility to...