IB History International Reaction and Impact Notes

Tony Blair’s 1999 Chicago Speech

• Delivered during NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, Blair argued that in a post-Cold War world, the international community could not remain passive in the face of gross human rights abuses, even within sovereign states.
• He proposed five key conditions under which military intervention might be justified. They included the presence of a clear humanitarian need and the exhaustion of diplomatic options. These principles formed the basis for what would later evolve into the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
  • Are we sure of our case? There must be clear evidence of a humanitarian crisis or mass violations of human rights, justifying international concern and action.
  • Have all diplomatic options been exhausted? Military action should be a last resort. All non-violent avenues, including diplomacy and negotiation, must be tried and proven ineffective.
  • Are there military operations we can sensibly and prudently undertake? Intervention must be feasible and proportionate. Military action should be practical, with clear objectives and minimal risk of escalating violence.
  • Are we prepared for the long term? Intervention should not end with military success. It must include a commitment to long-term peacebuilding, reconstruction, and political stability.
  • Do we have national interests involved? While moral obligations matter, Blair acknowledged that national or regional stability and strategic interests also play a role in justifying involvement.
• Blair emphasized that state sovereignty should not serve as a shield for governments committing atrocities against their own people.
  • This marked a significant shift from traditional non-interventionist norms.
  • It suggested that ethical imperatives could, and sometimes should, override legal ones.