| Front | Back | | --- | --- | | In Global Politics, what does the term legitimacy refer to regarding a state's decision to use force? | The perceived justification or acceptability of the use of force by domestic populations, the international community, and international legal frameworks. | | Under what specific legal justification does Article 51 of the UN Charter allow states to use force legitimately? | Self-defense (either individual or collective) in response to an armed attack. | | The UN Charter generally prohibits the use of force, with two main exceptions: self-defense under Article 51 or authorization by the UN Security Council. | The UN Charter generally prohibits the use of force, with two main exceptions: self-defense under Article 51 or authorization by the UN Security Council. | | How did NATO legally justify its 2011 military intervention in Libya, and what international norm did it align with? |

It was authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which approved a no-fly zone.
It aligned with the moral norm of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) to safeguard civilians from state violence.

| | Why did the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq suffer from a severe lack of international legitimacy? |

It lacked a specific authorizing UN Security Council resolution.
The core justification, which was the presence of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), was highly disputed and proved false.

| | How did Russia construct a legal legitimacy claim for its 2015 military intervention in the Syrian Civil War? | It intervened at the official invitation of the internationally recognized sovereign government of Bashar al-Assad. | | How would a liberal institutionalist and a realist differ in evaluating the legitimacy of the 2003 Iraq War? |

Liberal institutionalist: Illegitimate because it bypassed multilateral institutions and lacked UN Security Council authorization.
Realist: Legitimate if it served the US national interest and shifted the balance of power, regardless of UN approval.

| | How did the Kurdish Peshmerga, a non-state actor, acquire international legitimacy during the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts? | By acting as a highly effective ground force in combating ISIS, gaining direct military and diplomatic support from Western states. | | What action can rapidly strip a non-state rebel group of its political legitimacy, even if its cause is self-determination? | The deliberate use of terrorism or targeting of civilians, which violates international humanitarian law. | | Under Just War Theory, the criteria for the legitimate resort to war (jus ad bellum) include having a just cause, being a last resort, and being declared by a legitimate authority. | Under Just War Theory, the criteria for the legitimate resort to war (jus ad bellum) include having a just cause, being a last resort, and being declared by a legitimate authority. | | In the context of conflict legitimacy, what is the difference between the principles of necessity and proportionality? |

Necessity: Force is only legitimate if all peaceful, diplomatic options have been exhausted.
Proportionality: The scale of military force must not exceed what is required to resolve the threat.

| | How does the concept of 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P) challenge traditional Westphalian sovereignty regarding conflict legitimacy? | It asserts that sovereignty is conditional on protecting citizens; if a state fails, the international community has a legitimate duty to intervene, overriding non-interference. | | The Westphalian system established in 1648 prioritizes the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference, which often clashes with modern humanitarian interventions. | The Westphalian system established in 1648 prioritizes the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference, which often clashes with modern humanitarian interventions. | | How would a constructivist explain why the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention has increased since the end of the Cold War? | Through the evolution of international norms (like R2P) that have successfully redefined sovereignty as a responsibility rather than an absolute right. | | Why is conflict legitimacy considered a subjective and dynamic concept? |

Subjective: Different actors, such as states versus non-state groups, hold competing legal and moral frameworks.
Dynamic: Perceptions of legitimacy shift over time as new information emerges or global norms evolve.

| | The international norm of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) was developed to provide a framework for legitimate intervention to prevent mass atrocities when a sovereign state fails to protect its own population. | The international norm of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) was developed to provide a framework for legitimate intervention to prevent mass atrocities when a sovereign state fails to protect its own population. | | How would a Marxist theorist critique the 'humanitarian legitimacy' claimed by Western states during interventions in the Global South? | They would argue that humanitarianism is an ideological smokescreen used by powerful capitalist states to secure resources and economic hegemony. | |

Based on this diagram of International Conflict, what three distinct dimensions must be analyzed to evaluate the overall legitimacy of a conflict?

Legal justification (international and domestic law).
Moral and ethical considerations (humanitarianism, proportionality).
Political and social context (public support, recognition).

Core: Understanding power and global politics6 subtopics

Rights and Justice4 subtopics

Development and Sustainability4 subtopics

Peace and Conflict4 subtopics

IB Global Politics The Legitimacy of Conflict Flashcards

Core: Understanding power and global politics6 subtopics

Rights and Justice4 subtopics

Development and Sustainability4 subtopics

Peace and Conflict4 subtopics

Flashcards for The legitimacy of conflict

Flashcards for The legitimacy of conflict - IB