The Price of Ethics 2: Human Rights, Just War, & Nation Building

Come join us for some informal philisophical discussion. No prior knowledge or research is needed, but an open mind is.

This week we will continue our series on The Price of Ethics, this time applying geopolitics to questions of ethics. We often talk about ethics with the assumption that we always have the option to "do the right thing," but when looking around the world we quickly discover that "the right thing," is not agreed upon.

Most modern people belive in some form of universal human rights. How far are you willing to go to enforce that?
We will discuss the price (and desirablility) of trying to actually implement that on the world stage, particularly in places where there are forces trying to prevent it (governments, institutions, cultural practices, etc).

1. To what extent should universal human rights be considered truly "universal," and how do we reconcile this with cultural relativism when enforcing them in societies with differing values?
2. In the context of Just War theory, what criteria must be met for military intervention to be ethically justified in defense of human rights, and are there cases where preemptive action is morally acceptable?
3. How do we weigh the human costs—such as civilian casualties and long-term instability—against the potential benefits of nation-building efforts in regions where human rights are systematically violated?
4. Is it ethically defensible for wealthier nations to impose economic sanctions or trade restrictions on countries that violate human rights, even if it exacerbates poverty and suffering among the general population?
5. What role should international organizations like the United Nations play in enforcing human rights, and at what point does their intervention become an infringement on national sovereignty?
6. Drawing from historical examples like the interventions in Iraq or Afghanistan, what lessons can we learn about the unintended consequences of attempting to "export" democratic values and human rights through force?
7. If a government is democratically elected but enacts policies that violate universal human rights (e.g., discrimination against minorities), is external intervention justified, or does democracy take precedence?
8. How far should individuals or non-state actors (e.g., NGOs, activists) go in challenging oppressive regimes, and what ethical responsibilities do bystanders in other countries have to support such efforts?