Questioning the efficacy of violence to achieve security : the 1991 Gulf War

International Relations theory tends to assume that the use of violence is both necessary and effective. Supporters of non-violence however propose that violence is not effective to achieve ones aims. This study will question these contrasting perspectives by asking to what degree violence is effective in obtaining security in international politics. The study focuses on International Relations theory, testing its assumption that violence is effective against the case of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, a conflict that is often seen as a clear case for the success of violence. If the security benefits of this war cannot be proven clearly, then it brings the effectiveness of violence to build security into question. The study questions the effectiveness of violence in this case for three main areas: territory, military power and non-military power. It finds that Iraq's use of violence was mostly counter-productive, leading to further losses rather than gains. The use of violence on the Coalition side brought the Coalition some benefits, but these benefits were not as high as one might expect, and they were not long-lasting. This leads to the conclusion that the benefits of the use of violence are not easy to achieve, even for the victor. It is easier for the victor to destroy the power and ability to act of another actor than it is to build the benefits from that destruction afterwards. The final conclusion of the study is that the use violence needs to be treated more critically in International Relations theory, as it cannot be assumed that the successful useof violence will bring security.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

PhD

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Hull

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Thomas, Claire

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kane, Thomas M., 1969-

• Politics

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:hull-repository.worktribe.com:4214448

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:hull-repository.worktribe.com:4214448