Introduction
The September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 on the United States, marked the beginning of the war on terror in the international system. Al Qaeda emerged as the group who took responsibility for the attacks. In response to these attacks the United States began their campaign in Afghanistan where Al Qaeda was based (Andreani, 2004, p. 32). The United States wanted to eliminate the Taliban and to give back power to the Afghan government (Elshtain, 2003, pp. 2-4). However, the United States’ motives behind moving into Afghanistan was primarily to maintain the state’s security. Therefore, Realism is the theoretical tradition that can most adequately account for the actions that the United States undertook in response to terrorism which marked the beginning of the war on terror.
Order
Sovereignty is essential in maintaining order. The ability to uphold order is …show more content…
However, following the attacks, the United States used international law to its advantage in order to support its cause (Hurrell, 2002, p. 192). For example, the United States justified the invasion of Afghanistan and the use of force on the basis of self-defense, obtained through the Security Council (Hurrell, 2002, p. 189). The United States interpreted the term self-defense in an unconventional way. It focused on the 9/11 attacks which would be acceptable. However, using self-defense as a justification for future possible threats is a new take on this concept.
In conclusion it can be said that realism can explain the war on terror, especially in relation to the United States’ response towards September 11, through the invasion of Afghanistan. Through the principles of order, violence and justice, the United States displayed how its power and authority can enable it to do whatever it takes to seek justice for the acts of terrorism that it faced in
The September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 on the United States, marked the beginning of the war on terror in the international system. Al Qaeda emerged as the group who took responsibility for the attacks. In response to these attacks the United States began their campaign in Afghanistan where Al Qaeda was based (Andreani, 2004, p. 32). The United States wanted to eliminate the Taliban and to give back power to the Afghan government (Elshtain, 2003, pp. 2-4). However, the United States’ motives behind moving into Afghanistan was primarily to maintain the state’s security. Therefore, Realism is the theoretical tradition that can most adequately account for the actions that the United States undertook in response to terrorism which marked the beginning of the war on terror.
Order
Sovereignty is essential in maintaining order. The ability to uphold order is …show more content…
However, following the attacks, the United States used international law to its advantage in order to support its cause (Hurrell, 2002, p. 192). For example, the United States justified the invasion of Afghanistan and the use of force on the basis of self-defense, obtained through the Security Council (Hurrell, 2002, p. 189). The United States interpreted the term self-defense in an unconventional way. It focused on the 9/11 attacks which would be acceptable. However, using self-defense as a justification for future possible threats is a new take on this concept.
In conclusion it can be said that realism can explain the war on terror, especially in relation to the United States’ response towards September 11, through the invasion of Afghanistan. Through the principles of order, violence and justice, the United States displayed how its power and authority can enable it to do whatever it takes to seek justice for the acts of terrorism that it faced in