Human Rights or 'Human Rights Imperialism'? Lessons from the War Against Yugoslavia

Guild Practitioner, Vol. 57, No. 76, 2000

18 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2010

See all articles by Peter Erlinder

Peter Erlinder

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Date Written: 2000

Abstract

This article discusses the U.S. aerial bombings of Yugoslavia and Kosovo that took place in 1999 in the name of human rights, and what can be learned from them. The bombings killed thousands of civilians, and appear to have had a destabilizing effect on international affairs by undermining the principle of national sovereignty. However, whether this war was really about human rights, or whether it was more akin to the use of human rights claims to justify acts of aggression is less obvious. The answers to three specific questions can help clarify the answer to this dilemma. First, did the bombing accomplish the stated "human rights" or strategic objectives of NATO? Second, are the claimed objectives credible as the real reasons for the bombing? Finally, if the answers to these questions are negative, what are the unstated reasons behind the first post WW II aerial bombing of a European state by the U.S. and its allies? This article explores the answers to these questions.

Keywords: Human Rights, imperialism, International Law, foreign affairs

Suggested Citation

Erlinder, Peter, Human Rights or 'Human Rights Imperialism'? Lessons from the War Against Yugoslavia (2000). Guild Practitioner, Vol. 57, No. 76, 2000, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1687881

Peter Erlinder (Contact Author)

Mitchell Hamline School of Law ( email )

875 Summit Ave
St. Paul, MN 55105-3076
United States
651-290-6384 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
65
Abstract Views
467
Rank
618,039
PlumX Metrics