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A review essay on books by (1) Neta Crawford, Argument and Change in World Politics: Ethics, Decolonization and Humanitarian Intervention (Cambridge: Cambridge U Press, 2002); (2) Martha Finnemore, The Purpose of Intervention: Changing Beliefs about the Use of Force (Ithaca, NY: Cornell U Press, 2003); & (3) Anthony F. Lang, Jr., Agency and Ethics: The Politics of Military Intervention (New York: State U New York Press, 2002). A number of theory-driven books have recently appeared on the subject of military intervention. The three under review in this article are timely in explicitly associating past colonial practice with more recent military adventures. Yet each author seems to suggest that colonial (& decolonization) practices actually reinforce the humanity of the West & the validity of recent 'humanitarian' justifications for war rather than expose much that is unseemly about contemporary interventionary practice. What is the source of this apparent paradox? One answer can be found in the theoretical framework of each book. Notwithstanding the extent to which the authors have sought to be self-reflective concerning power & critical of the International Relations mainstream, all offer legitimizations for imperial/humanitarian war in wide & problematic ways. Adapted from the source document.

Between 2016 and 2020, a group of activist generals successfully plotted the Brazilian military's gradual return to the political center stage with powers unseen since the dictatorship. They achieved this without formally breaking the law, suspending the democratic process or overthrowing the government. We call this a "stealth intervention," an incremental yet systematic attempt to redesign politics without causing a rupture, that fits neither in the existing typology of coups nor in the literature on democratic backsliding. We argue that Brazil's stealth intervention, built upon the military's existing tutelary prerogatives and driven by an unreformed praetorian worldview that resurfaced amidst a sustained crisis of democracy, challenges the prevalent view of the armed forces as a reactive force that intervenes in civilian politics only when its institutional interests are threatened. Finally, we show that democratic backsliding in Brazil started under Bolsonaro's predecessor, Michel Temer, and point to the generals' understudied role in this process. (JPLA/GIGA)

Between 2016 and 2020, a group of activist generals successfully plotted the Brazilian military's gradual return to the political center stage with powers unseen since the dictatorship. They achieved this without formally breaking the law, suspending the democratic process or overthrowing the government. We call this a "stealth intervention," an incremental yet systematic attempt to redesign politics without causing a rupture, that fits neither in the existing typology of coups nor in the literature on democratic backsliding. We argue that Brazil's stealth intervention, built upon the military's existing tutelary prerogatives and driven by an unreformed praetorian worldview that resurfaced amidst a sustained crisis of democracy, challenges the prevalent view of the armed forces as a reactive force that intervenes in civilian politics only when its institutional interests are threatened. Finally, we show that democratic backsliding in Brazil started under Bolsonaro's predecessor, Michel Temer, and point to the generals' understudied role in this process.

"Drawing together researchers and practitioners from the academic, security, and defence community, this unique book investigates why countries go to war. It uncovers the conditions under which military deployments occur and what this means for future decisions involving the use of force. The book explores how recent experiences with military interventions, war weariness amongst publics, regional flash points, and the financial crisis, are factors that impact wartime decision-making. Given the diverse backgrounds of the contributors (academic experts, serving military officers, and defence scientists), the debate is vivid and rich, revealing the complexity of the issues that play into the decision to go to war. One of the key findings is that reasons for going to war have as much to do with domestic concerns as they do with international threats. Other conclusions of the book relate to the changing character of war, whether it is fewer military fatalities overall or the unpredictable impact the improvised explosive device had in Afghanistan and Iraq. As with all seemingly simple questions, the answers are multi dimensional. The authors in this volume demonstrate the depth and complexity of the question: Are we Going To War?"--

The Russian Military Intervention in Syria examines Russia's foreign policy and attempts to protect its interests in the Middle East and former Soviet territory. Providing historical context and revealing the causes of Russia's use of military power, this book is an authoritative overview of Russia's policy goals and diplomatic handling of the Syrian conflict.