TONIGHT (Monday 19 October), the Edinburgh Union will host a debate on international affairs and tackle one of the most consequential foreign policy issues with the motion: This House Believes Military Intervention Has Done More Harm Than Good.
From the fallout of the Iraq War to ongoing crises across the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the efficacy and cost of foreign military intervention remain contested. The proposition that armed involvement stabilises regions is challenged by arguments that it generates further instability and humanitarian disaster.
The debate brings together experts in war, diplomacy, and investigative reporting. Arguing for the proposition will be Frances Guy, Chief Executive Officer of Scotland’s International Development Alliance and former British Ambassador to Yemen and Lebanon, and Dr Iain Overton, award-winning investigative journalist and Associate Professor at SOAS.
On the opposition, they will face Sir Hew Strachan, a leading Scottish military historian, Pritzker Literature Award laureate, and Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, as well as Tim Ripley, a British defence journalist who has reported from active conflict zones in the Balkans and the Middle East.
This event will take place in Rainy Hall at New College, with doors opening at 6:30 pm and the debate commencing at 7 pm. Continuing with Edinburgh Union tradition, audience members will have the opportunity to challenge guest speakers and deliver speeches during the debate.
Euan Morgan, President of the Edinburgh Union, said: “The question of whether military intervention creates peace or perpetuates suffering is at the forefront of most contemporary clashes. As these conflicts dominate headlines, we must scrutinise the true impact of foreign military strategies.
“A panel of this calibre, featuring a former British Ambassador, a Pritzker-winning historian, and journalists who have exposed the realities of modern warfare from the frontlines, truly elevates this discussion.
“We are proud to give students the chance to step into the room with those who have shaped and reported on these interventions, and to challenge their perspectives.”