Following World War II, the nations of the world determined to avoid the devastation of a total world war. The nations, in pursuit of that end, formed the United Nations and signed a pact to renounce the use of force and solve their problems through dialogue. The nations sought not only to facilitate world peace, but also to advance justice and protect the rights of individual human beings. Nonetheless, since the founding of the United Nations, much of the import of international law has been directed toward the preservation of peace without regard for justice or human rights.
Despite the primary focus of international law on peacekeeping, there have always been theorists interested in advancing justice through international law. Their theories of international justice seek to advance and protect the rights of the individual, but often conflict with the goal of peace. One such theory is the doctrine of humanitarian intervention. This doctrine justifies military action against regimes whose treatment of their own people is so arbitrary and inhumane that it shocks the conscience of the world community. . . .