Debating Humanitarian Intervention: Should We Try to Save Strangers?
Language: English
Published by Oxford University Press, 2017
Series: Book 5 of 13 - Debating Ethics
- Softcover
- New

Seller: Mesquite Booksellers, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.Mesquite Booksellers
AbeBooks seller since December 4, 2025
Condition: New
US$ 29.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Softcover. vi+280pp. New condition. (If you order this from outside the United States, we are likely to request an additional payment to help cover the postage.) Every order includes tracking and is wrapped and robustly packaged with care in Tucson, AZ. ~Mesquite Booksellers.
Seller Inventory # 73978
- Title
- Debating Humanitarian Intervention: Should We Try to Save Strangers?
- Author
- Fernando R. Tesón and Bas Van Der Vossen
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year
- 2017
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0190202912
- ISBN 13
- 9780190202910
- Series
- Book 5 of 13: Debating Ethics
- Seller catalogs
- Philosophy
Philosophers Fernando Tesón and Bas van der Vossen offer contrasting views of humanitarian intervention, defining it as either war aimed at ending tyranny, or as violence. The authors employ the tools of impartial modern analytic philosophy, particularly just war theory, to substantiate their claims. According to Tesón, a humanitarian intervention has the same just cause as a justified revolution: ending tyranny. He analyzes the different kinds of just cause and whether or not an intervener may pursue other justified causes. For Tesón, the permissibility of humanitarian intervention is almost exclusively determined by the rules of proportionality. Bas van der Vossen, by contrast, holds that military intervention is morally impermissible in almost all cases. Justified interventions, Van der Vossen argues, must have high ex ante chance of success. Analyzing the history and prospects of intervention shows that they almost never do.
Tesón and van der Vossen refer to concrete cases, and weigh the consequences of continued or future intervention in Syria, Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Iraq, Lybia and Egypt. By placing two philosophers in dialogue, Debating Humanitarian Intervention is not constrained by a single, unifying solution to the exclusion of all others. Rather, it considers many conceivable actions as judged by analytic philosophy, leaving the reader equipped to make her own, informed judgments.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Bas van der Vossen is Associate Professor of Philosophy in the Smith Institute of Political Economy and Philosophy and the Philosophy Department at Chapman University. His research focuses on questions in political philosophy, and he is an Associate Editor of the journal Social Philosophy and Policy.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Mesquite Booksellers
Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since December 4, 2025
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 3.00 | US$ 5.50 |
Payment methods
Store description
Mesquite Booksellers specializes in history, philosophy and the social sciences. Most titles are academic press. We offer some heavily discounted Bradt Guides, as a service to the world-curious. We buy collections of academic books; please message us through AbeBooks should you wish to sell yours. More photographs of any book will happily be sent to you upon request. Please message us with any questions!
Specialty
History, philosophy and the social sciences. Most titles are academic press.Seller's business information
Mesquite Booksellers
AZ, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
We carefully evaluate each title listed for sale. If you are unsatisfied with the condition of any book, you may return it (in the same condition as you received it) for a full refund within 30 days.
Payment may only be made via AbeBooks.
Shipping terms
All shipments will originate in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Orders placed Sunday-Friday will be processed and shipped by 5pm the next day. Should you order on a Saturday or a holiday, we will ship on the next available business day.
All books are carefully and robustly packaged.
We do not drop ship. All titles are in our possession and immediately accessible.
Shipping within the United States will be conducted by USPS Media Mail.
International shipments will be sent via the United States Postal Service (USPS). This means that when the parcel arrives in your country, it will be handled and delivered by your country's national postal service (not a private courier). We are likely to request an additional payment to help cover the cost of an international shipment.
Important Notice to International Buyers: Import duties, taxes and other charges by your country's authorities are not included in the item price or shipping charges. Check with your local customs office to determine what these additional costs may be. Once a parcel arrives in your country, your country's authorities and postal service may process and deliver that parcel quite quickly, or quite slowly. Once the parcel arrives in your country, neither Mesquite Booksellers nor the United States Postal Service is responsible for a slow processing and delivery. Shipping time estimates concern the speed with which the parcel arrives to your country, not how quickly it arrives at your door. Some of the best (fastest) performers in this regard: Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Australia, Slovakia, Hungary, Israel. Some of the worst performers: Italy, Spain, France, Mexico.