The necessity and parameters of indirect intervention under the principle of non-intervention

Abstract

Despite the United Nations Charter prohibiting states from indirectly intervening “in matters that are in essence within the jurisdiction of a state”, under the principle of non-intervention, in practice, this is rarely followed. This can be highly attributed to the lack of set down parameters of what exactly constitutes these ‘intervening activities’ and consequently leaving a Pandora box for the exploitation of states, violating the principle of non-intervention. The reality is more so seen in practice in a realm where states have varying powers and varying degrees of interdependence. Armed conflict under ‘direct intervention’ in turn, is rarely resorted to, as more and more, economic, diplomatic and subversive forms of intervention carry the day.