Posted: March 5th, 2016

Discuss the US and UK’s intervention in Iraq in 2003 in terms of whether it was authorised by the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

: Discuss the US and UK’s intervention in Iraq in 2003 in terms of whether it was authorised by the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Instructions
At first glance, it seems an essay question but it’s actually a mix of both essay and problem question. Generally, a problem question includes a scenario. Here, the scenario/problem is UK and Us’s intervention in Iraq and whether it was authorised by UN charter (chapter vII). The essay part is the discussion of Collective security system.

Answering a problem question in this area (General instruction from the university)

•Focus on the main issues of the problem (delineate and understand them first through legal sources)
•Understand the political context
•Discuss Collective Security system (very important part)
•Use article 2(4) UN Charter as background
•Discuss role of Security Council in the Collective Security system, and how states have played with it.