A quick primer on the most common self-defence terminology, because states and scholars tend to be all over the place. "Pre-emptive" self-defence is a response to an imminent armed attack. "Preventive" self-defence is a response to an armed attack that is not even imminent. - ThreadSky

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kevinjonheller.bsky.social • 14 days ago

A quick primer on the most common self-defence terminology, because states and scholars tend to be all over the place.

"Pre-emptive" self-defence is a response to an imminent armed attack.

"Preventive" self-defence is a response to an armed attack that is not even imminent.

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rji95.bsky.social•12 days ago

So…

‘pre-emptive’ = addressing a real threat

‘preventive’ = a dressed up war of aggression

kevinjonheller.bsky.social•14 days ago

Some states and scholars also speak of "interceptive" self-defence. That is essentially a version of pre-emptive self-defence -- where a state defends itself against an armed attack that is underway but has not yet reached its territory.

kevinjonheller.bsky.social•14 days ago

Pre-emptive and preventive self-defence are often grouped together and described as "anticipatory" self-defence. The term "anticipatory" indicates that the armed attack ostensibly giving rise to the right of self-defence is not yet underway.

kevinjonheller.bsky.social•14 days ago

Israel is the only state that has unequivocally endorsed the right of preventive self-defence. The US has occasionally done so, such as in its 2002 and 2006 National Security Strategies. But it prefers to endorse pre-emptive self-defence with a highly flexible idea of imminence.

kevinjonheller.bsky.social•14 days ago

PS: I am among the small group of Western scholars who doesn't accept the legality of anything beyond interceptive SD. The legality of less imminent self-defence can be established only by ignoring the repeated condemnations of pre-emptive SD by 140+ states in the Global South.

pagingdrpaige.bsky.social•14 days ago

I'll join you in that club

kevinjonheller.bsky.social•14 days ago

All the cool kids reject pre-emptive self-defence.

climatenews.bsky.social•14 days ago

And “unprovoked state terrorism to prevent peace talks” is what happened here.

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