Europe and Syria: Diplomacy, Law and War

• Main Author: Mary Ellen O'Connell
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Papers (www.europeanpapers.eu) 2017-06-01
• Series: European Papers
• Subjects: diplomacy; intervention; law; militarism; peace; war
• Online Access: https://www.europeanpapers.eu/en/e-journal/europe-and-syria-diplomacy-law-and-war

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2017 2(1), 15-21 | Overview | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. - II. A growing fascination with armed force. - III. Reviving the art of peace through law - IV. Conclusion. | (Abstract) The conflict in Syria is entering its sixth year with no clear end in sight. EU Member States have a choice - continue or even escalate military involvement or seek an effective path to peace. Member States cannot do both because military involvement violates international law. Seeking peace requires using the methods of diplomacy on the basis of adherence to international law. Six years of unlawful intervention has not worked. It is time to give peaceful settlement a real chance, something the EU and its Member States have hardly done to date.