Overview

This book examines how states justify the domestic use of military force to foreign audiences. By deploying a sociological approach to legitimacy and drawing on conceptual tools which deal directly with the dynamics of justification, it offers a novel framework for understanding the politics of international legitimacy and domestic armed action. The framework is grounded in detailed qualitative analyses of civil wars in Sri Lanka (2006–2009), and Aceh, Indonesia (2003–2005). The book shows that the meaning of legitimacy in a particular context does not flow directly from a menu of relevant rules, norms and ideas. Rather, legitimacy is always politically contested. When states justify fighting at home, the success of their claims is determined by their capacity to appeal to rules and norms but also to frame their action in ways that their audiences find compelling. Therefore, the framework offered in this book draws attention to the crucial but largely neglected role of audiences in the constitution of legitimacy. This book will be of interest to students of security studies, law, human rights and international relations.

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9780367765026

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Reviews

‘Why do states feel the need to justify the domestic use of force to international audiences? How do they go about it? And what does this tell us about the politics of international legitimacy? Megan Price addresses these questions in this groundbreaking book. What’s more, she tackles them by reference to two fascinating cases that fall outside the standard focus on western powers: Indonesia’s intervention in Aceh (2003-05) and Sri Lanka’s recourse to force (2006-09) against the Tamil Tigers. This book is for anyone who is interested in the legitimacy of military force.’—Cian O’Driscoll, Australian National University

Author Information

Megan Price is a Sessional Lecturer in the School of Political Science and International Studies, at the University of Queensland, Australia.

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