When should the international community intervene to prevent suffering within sovereign states? This book argues that since Kosovo, the normative thesis has failed to influence international politics, as evidenced by events in Iraq and Darfur. This critique rejects realism and offers a new perspective on this important issue.

AIDAN HEHIR is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster, UK. Previously he worked at the University of Limerick and the University of Sheffield. He has published in a number of academic journals.

Acknowledgements Introduction International Law, Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention The Normative Thesis and Operation Allied Force Humanitarian Intervention after Kosovo The Dangers of Unregulated Humanitarian Intervention Regulating Humanitarian Intervention: The Need for Redirection Conclusion: Sovereignty, Human Rights and the Integrity of International Law