Non-interventionism

Quick Facts: Who was Non-interventionism?

Subject:

Non-interventionism

Known for:

A foreign policy principle advocating non-involvement in the internal affairs of other sovereign states.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Non-interventionism or non-intervention is commonly understood as "a foreign policy of political or military non-involvement in foreign relations or in other countries' internal affairs". This is based on the grounds that a state should not interfere in the internal politics of another state as well as the principles of state sovereignty and self-determination. A similar phrase is "strategic independence". Non-interventionism became a norm in international relations before World War I. During the Cold War, it was often violated in order to instigate revolutions, prevent revolutions, or protect international security. Many countries have since adopted their own interpretation of non-interventionism or modified it according to the responsibility to protect any population from egregious crimes.

Career & Major Achievements

In political science lexicon, the term "isolationism" is sometimes improperly used in place of "non-interventionism". "Isolationism" should be interpreted as a broader foreign policy that, in addition to non-interventionism, is associated with trade and economic protectionism, cultural and religious isolation, as well as non-participation in any permanent military alliance. The term "non-intervention" was used in the context of United States policy in 1915. The norm of non-intervention has dominated the majority of international relations and can be seen to have been one of the principal motivations for the United States initial non-interventionist policy in World Wars I and II, and the liberal powers' non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War despite the involvement of Germany and Italy. The norm was then firmly established into international law as one of the United Nations Charter's central tenets, which established non-intervention as one of the key principles which would underpin the emergent post-World War II peace.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

However, this was soon affected by the advent of the Cold War, which increased the number and intensity of interventions in the domestic politics of a vast number of developing countries under pretexts such as instigating a "global socialist revolution" or ensuring "containment" of such a revolution. The adoption of such pretexts and the idea that such interventions were to prevent a threat to "international peace and security" allowed intervention under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. There must be a vote of nine member states out of fifteen, within the Security Council along with no vetoes from the five permanent members." Additionally, the UN's power to regulate such interventions was hampered during the Cold War due to both the US and USSR holding veto power in the United Nations Security Council. Mutual non-interference has been one of China's principles on foreign policy since 1954. After the reform and opening up, China began to focus on industrial development and actively avoided military conflict over the subsequent decades.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1915: 1915 Milestone — The term "non-intervention" was used in the context of United States policy in 1915.
2. 1954: 1954 Milestone — Mutual non-interference has been one of China's principles on foreign policy since 1954.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Non-interventionism

True or False: “The concept of 'isolationism' is always synonymous with 'non-interventionism' in international law.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): 'Isolationism' is a broader term that includes economic protectionism and non-participation in alliances, whereas non-interventionism focuses specifically on political or military non-involvement.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. A. K. Niazi — Historical peer (Born in 1915) (1915): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Abba Eban — Historical peer (Born in 1915) (1915): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Aarathi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Veteran Indian actress celebrated for her roles in Kannada cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Abdel Fattah el-Sisi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Egyptian military leader who became the sixth President of Egypt in 2014.

Frequently Asked Questions about Non-interventionism