Civilian Intervention

[Page 102]Civilian intervention refers to the efforts taken by members of the international community—states, intergovernmental organizations, and/or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)—to address the human rights concerns of local populations affected by conflict and/or natural disasters. These efforts apply to any military, diplomatic, and/or economic action taken by an actor to improve the security and well-being of civilians. When the government of a population is unable or unwilling to protect it, interveners respond to such issues in order to protect civilians and prevent future attacks against them. This entry provides a brief overview of the main theoretical approaches used to explain civilian interventions, major debates on the topic, and the effects of such interventions.