International Relations debates
Because the world is a big place
3 Big types of motions
1. Incentives/Intervention in countries
2. Rules of war/International justice
3. Point of View debate
1. Incentives and intervention
• These motions are based around trying to get
countries or groups within countries to do
things
• It’s not enough to say sanctions show
condemnation – you have to show how that
changes things
• Think about your actor – NATO is a good
choice for interventions, the UN for sanctions
–if it’s just the UK it won’t really do much
During Prep
• Think about your actor – NATO backing The Arab
League or African Union is a good choice for
interventions, the UN for sanctions –if it’s just the
UK it won’t really do much
• Who will back and who will oppose your course
of action – in general China & Russia oppose
international action against the same people as
the West does
• America tends to oppose action against Israel –
are your sanctions viable can you actually win a
fight if these actors are involved
During Prep 2
• Even if you don’t know about groups – if it’s a conflict
there will tend to be rebels and a state
• Rebel groups in conflicts are rarely homogenous and
peaceful – if the country has a high % of Islamic
population Al-quaeda are normally involved
• What are the incentives of these groups –
1. States desire security and prosperity (Burma sanctions
are a great example)
2. Rebels often come from marginalised discriminated
against groups (this is NOT the same as minorities)
During the debate
• If people claim facts you’ve never heard of before
– run with it steal the facts as your own to back
up your case
• If people claim things that are untrue – only
spend time pointing this out if it’s important and
you can explain why it’s untrue rather than just
say it is
• If one team is clearly doing an essay on the topic
and fab debaters don’t expect to beat them – aim
for the second
Types of motions
THW militarily intervene in Syria
THW lift all sanctions on North Korea
THBT Western Liberal Democracies should
boycott the Russian Olympics
TH regrets the invasion of Iraq
2. Rules of war/International justice
Important considerations on the legitimacy of action:
1. Self-defence – is the act essential protection from an
existential threat
2. Humanitarianism – is the act/type of war the most
humane possible to achieve the goals. ALWAYS THINK
RELATIVE HERE (motions on legalising child soldiers have
been made before)
3.Strategic interest – Are states entirely self-interested
4. International precedent – even if in some scenarios this
course of action might be good is the precedent so
important we can’t let it happen
The International Criminal court -pros
• Theoretically promises accountability no
matter what
• Creates a rigorous standard of what you can
and can’t do as a leader/general both at peace
and in war (deterrent affect?)
• Gives the potential for justice to the victims of
crimes where no other – the court’s mandate
only starts when there is no chance at local
justice
The International Criminal court -cons
• Ineffective enforcement mechanisms – relies
on local people handing people over (only 1
conviction to date)
• Accused of racism and colonialism – almost
everyone charged is African (Serbia was dealt
with by independent commissions before the
ICC existed)
• Neither America nor Israel have signed it –
both fear political prosecutions
Examples
THBT the ICC should use Private Military Companies to
enforce warrants
THW lift the international ban on child soldiers
TH regrets the moral and legal distinction between
conventional and chemical weapons
THBT it is the right of all states to develop nuclear
weapons
THBT energy security is 1 legitimate reason for military
action
3. Point of View debates
• Assume the identity of a certain actor or nation (for
example Japan) and debate benefits of a certain policy
for you
• Do not forget the affect on other nations – if Japan
remilitarises China may consider economic action
• You are generally aiming for benefit for your “faction”
or nation however rather than a “better world” though
these things will often go hand in hand
• Otherwise you should consider the things in the first 2
types of motions
Examples
THBT Japan should acquire nuclear weapons
TH, as Germany, would immediately cease all
reparations to the State of Israel
THBT Greece should ban the Golden Dawn party
TH, as the Muslim Brotherhood (of Egypt) , would
sincerely offer to cease resistance, participate in
elections and respect a liberal constitution