ABSTRACT

This book offers an examination of the effectiveness of Western military interventions in the post-Cold War era.

It constitutes a comprehensive, interdisciplinary analysis of the conditions, conduct and consequences of post-Cold War armed conflicts, in which Western states, acting as a multinational coalition, were engaged in a combat role as an intervening force, not as an impartial peacekeeper. The volume identifies and analyses the causes, justifications and goals of the interventions, as well as the results of such engagements. The main objective is to assess the effectiveness of the military actions of Western states in these armed conflicts. Apart from the chapters devoted to particular conflicts – such as the Gulf War, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya – it also includes chapters in which experts summarise the legal, political, military and economic implications of all such Western-led interventions. As a result, the book helps us to understand why these military interventions happened, how they were executed and what the results were. Taking into account the impact of these military expeditions on global security, the book offers an explanation for some of the central questions concerning the current shape of international order and power distribution on a global scale.

This book will be of much interest to students of military and strategic studies, conflict studies, foreign policy and International Relations.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

Edited ByMarek Madej

chapter 1|22 pages

The Gulf

The first Western war after the Cold War

chapter 2|22 pages

Bosnia-Herzegovina

The West in the service of the UN
Edited ByMarek Madej

chapter 3|21 pages

Kosovo

The first war for human rights

chapter 4|34 pages

Afghanistan

The longest war, the greatest fiasco?
Edited ByMarek Madej

chapter 5|25 pages

Iraq 2003–2010

A disastrous war of choice

chapter 6|20 pages

Libya

When military success means state collapse
Edited ByAnna Wojciuk

chapter 7|16 pages

Liberal interventionism of the West after the Cold War

Premises and consequences

chapter 8|19 pages

Wars of the West

Conflicts with no victory

chapter 12|20 pages

Conclusions

On the effectiveness of Western interventions – the more we practice, the less we achieve?
Edited ByMarek Madej