Seminars & Lectures

‘Intervention: Limits of U.S. Power?’ Lecture at AUB

Monday, Oct 13, 2014
12:00pm -> 2:00pm
American University of Beirut (AUB)

The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) and the Center for American Studies and Research (CASAR) at AUB cordially invite you to a panel discussion titled, “Intervention: Limits of U.S. Power?”

Panelists:
Vijay Prashad, IFI Senior Research Fellow: “Obama’s ISIS Policy”

Lisa Hajjar, Edward Said Chair of American Studies, CASAR: “Interventions from the Sky: Drone Warfare as a Projection of Power without Logic or Forseeable End”

On September 10, 2014, President Barack Obama announced the authorization of US airstrikes in Syria and their expansion in Iraq, in the face of the Islamic State (IS). Obama’s plan for “degrading and ultimately destroying” IS – a non-state actor – is a considerable escalation of US military intervention in the region. However, Obama also hinted at an intervention rationale beyond a systematic airstrike campaign: through emphasizing humanitarian assistance to “innocent civilians”. Obama also evoked the ideological/moral dimensions for America’s engagement, where humanitarian concerns are a priority and military actions are justifiable to save civilian lives.

While Obama strived to differentiate this round of US involvement from previous wars he inherited, all signs point to an “endless war”: an open-ended, multi-sided intervention campaign. Furthermore, this is the first time intervention is instigated against a non-state actor. In light of these recent developments, there is a critical need to look at intervention from a more nuanced perspective, tracing its new dynamics and how it has transformed to involve new local and regional players, in addition to non-state actors and local resistances.

Please note: Event will be in English