From “Protecting Civilians” to “For the Sake of Democracy” (and Back Again): Justifying Intervention in Côte d'Ivoire

In its resolution 1975 (2011), the United Nations security council opened the way for the provision of decisive support to the forces close to Alassane Ouattara to win the Ivorian power struggle. The deployed peacekeepers had a mandate “to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.” A second reason frequently given was the necessary enforcement of the popular will expressed during the presidential elections in 2010. Ever since a low-intensity civil war broke out in September 2002, the different military engagements by various international players were justified by (1) protection concerns and/or (2) the preservation of democratic achievements. In the end, the justification of intervention by the “protection of civilians” argument received a larger consensus than the democratic norm. This article compares changing justifications for intervention with real achievements.