The United States imperative of military intervention through responsibility to protect : case study of Afghanistan and Syria

Abstract

The objective of this research is to understand The US military intervention in Afghanistan and Syria in the lens of Responsibility to Protect and Structural realism. The position that the US have over this case became of an importance in itself as the US has been known for its active and frequent participation towards intervention, both humanitarian and military, across the history. However, the continuity of US military intervention in Afghanistan and Syria leaves traces of indiscriminate killing which is frowned upon under the R2P. The phenomenon led this research to raise the question of ‘why would the United States continue conduction military intervention in Afghanistan and Syria despite its shortfall to fulfill the R2P principles?” This research will use the theory of structural realism alongside with the concept of offensive realism to understand the continuity of US military intervention. The analysis shows that the utilization of military force by the US goes in line with the national interest concept as there were vital ‘defense of the homeland’ interest at stake from the situation given by both states. Also, with the existence of terrorism which present threats towards US survivability and the absence of higher authority in response to the usage of chemical weapon made the US to pursue military action. Thus, the shortfall of R2P conduct in Afghanistan and Syria becomes the expense for US survival.