International intervention
Some people today have argued that countries should interfere less in the affairs of other nations.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Certain concerned individuals have made the argument in recent years that there should be less interference between countries in the domestic affairs of others. Though a certain degree of intervention is healthy, political leaders should avoid intervening in other nations’ matters in order to encourage efforts towards world peace and independence.
An argument in favour of interfering in other countries’ affairs highlights extreme cases that are in dire need of international aid. This can best be evidenced during the turbulent times of the recent global Covid-19 pandemic. Both developed and developing countries around the world grappled with soaring numbers of infected cases and, as a result, a collective effort between nations was desperately called for. For a health crisis of such pressing importance, only extremists would argue that international intervention is unwarranted and that countries’ leaders should turn a blind eye to the needs of other nations. Similar instances where intervention is critical can also be seen in history during periods of war or famine when international aid served to avoid preventable deaths.
However, in most cases, countries should seek to foster independence. These instances mentioned above are rare and history has shown that a more frequent degree of intervention can incite conflicts. For example, interfering in a nation’s domestic elections can lead to civil unrest and chronic problems related to corruption and special interests. External intervention in these cases likely stems from underlying self-interested intentions, one of which might be to gain a political advantage in international relations. Examples of this abound and a case-in-point is the Vietnam war during which time the deliberate interventions of the French army eventually led to the subjugation of many Vietnamese citizens and later a prolonged period of colonization, resulting in armed conflicts that killed millions in the 20th century.
In conclusion, despite the tangible merits of international intervention in extreme situations, countries should generally abstain from prying into others’ political affairs for better world peace. This is not a strict rule though, as countries should prioritise different approaches depending on specific situations.
Essay Breakdown
Structure
Introduction
[1] Certain concerned individuals have made the argument in recent years that there should be less interference between countries in the domestic affairs of others. [2] [2.1] Though a certain degree of intervention is healthy, [2.2] political leaders should avoid intervening in other nations’ matters in order to encourage efforts towards world peace and independence.
1. Paraphrase the topic – the extent to which countries interfere in others’ affairs
2. Write a clear opinion to state personal viewpoints and signpost what will be discussed in the essay
2.1 The first viewpoint – intervention is healthy to a certain extent
2.2 Second viewpoint – leaders should avoid intervening in other nations’ matters (for world peace and independence)
Body
Paragraph 1
[1] An argument in favour of interfering in other countries’ affairs highlights extreme cases that are in dire need of international aid. [2] This can best be evidenced during the turbulent times of the recent global Covid-19 pandemic. [3] Both developed and developing countries around the world grappled with soaring numbers of infected cases and, as a result, a collective effort between nations was desperately called for. [4] For a health crisis of such pressing importance, only extremists would argue that international intervention is unwarranted and that countries’ leaders should turn a blind eye to the needs of other nations. [5] Similar instances where intervention is critical can also be seen in history during periods of war or famine when international aid served to avoid preventable deaths.
1. A topic sentence showing the main idea – extreme cases of nations in dire need of worldwide aid
2. Take the Covid-19 pandemic as an example (Example-led paragraph)
3. Explain the example to get to a conclusion that international aid was in dire need.
4. Keep developing the example
5. Keep developing the main idea by introducing other cases in which intervention is critical
Paragraph 2
[1] However, in most cases, countries should seek to foster independence. [2] These instances mentioned above are rare and history has shown that a more frequent degree of intervention can incite conflicts. [3] For example, interfering in a nation’s domestic elections can lead to civil unrest and chronic problems related to corruption and special interests. [4] External intervention in these cases likely stems from underlying self-interested intentions, one of which might be to gain a political advantage in international relations. [5] Examples of this abound and a case-in-point is the Vietnam war during which time the deliberate interventions of the French army eventually led to the subjugation of many Vietnamese citizens and later a prolonged period of colonization, resulting in armed conflicts that killed millions in the 20th century.
1. A topic sentence showing the main idea – independence
2. [Counter-argument] a counterpoint to negate the main idea in the previous paragraph
3. Use an example to make the counter-argument even more persuasive
4. Give a further explanation
5. Use a specific example to emphasize the importance of striving for independence
Conclusion
[1] In conclusion, despite the tangible merits of international intervention in extreme situations, countries should generally abstain from prying into others’ political affairs for better world peace. [2] This is not a strict rule though, as countries should prioritise different approaches depending on specific situations.
1. Restate my opinion
2. Extend the viewpoint by stating a final thought
Vocabulary
Certain concerned individuals have made the argument in recent years that there should be less interference between countries in the domestic affairs of others. Though a certain degree of intervention is healthy, political leaders should avoid intervening in other nations’ matters in order to encourage efforts towards world peace and independence.
An argument in favour of interfering in other countries’ affairs highlights extreme cases that are in dire need of international aid. This can best be evidenced during the turbulent times of the recent global Covid-19 pandemic. Both developed and developing countries around the world grappled with soaring numbers of infected cases and, as a result, a collective effort between nations was desperately called for. For a health crisis of such pressing importance, only extremists would argue that international intervention is unwarranted and that countries’ leaders should turn a blind eye to the needs of other nations. Similar instances where intervention is critical can also be seen in history during periods of war or famine when international aid served to avoid preventable deaths.
However, in most cases, countries should seek to foster independence. These instances mentioned above are rare and history has shown that a more frequent degree of intervention can incite conflicts. For example, interfering in a nation’s domestic elections can lead to civil unrest and chronic problems related to corruption and special interests. External intervention in these cases likely stems from underlying self-interested intentions, one of which might be to gain a political advantage in international relations. Examples of this abound and a case-in-point is the Vietnam war during which time the deliberate interventions of the French army eventually led to the subjugation of many Vietnamese citizens and later a prolonged period of colonization, resulting in armed conflicts that killed millions in the 20th century.
In conclusion, despite the tangible merits of international intervention in extreme situations, countries should generally abstain from prying into others’ political affairs for better world peace. This is not a strict rule though, as countries should prioritise different approaches depending on specific situations.
- interference (n): getting involved in and trying to influence a situation
- intervene (v): to become involved in a situation in order to improve or help it
- turbulent times (adj): unstable moments
- pandemic (adj): a disease that spreads over a whole country or the whole world
- grapple with (v): to take a stronghold of something/somebody and struggle with them
- collective effort: collective actions, situations, or feelings shared by every member of a group of people
- extremist (n): a person whose opinions are extreme, and who may do violent or illegal things for what they believe
- unwarranted (adj): not reasonable or necessary
- turn a blind eye to: to ignore something that you know is wrong
- affluent (adj): having a lot of money and a good standard of living
- famine (n): a lack of food during a long period of time in a region
- international aid: global aid
- foster independence: to reinforce self-reliance
- incite conflicts: to trigger tensions
- civil unrest: acts of violence and disorder detrimental to public law and order
- chronic problem: an issue that is long-lasting and difficult to eradicate
- stem from (phrasal verb): to start or develop as the result of something
- deliberate (adj): done on purpose rather than by accident
- subjugation (n): the act of defeating somebody/something
- prolonged (adj): continuing for a long time
- colonization (n): the act of taking control of an area or a country that is not your own, especially using force
- abstain (v) + from something: to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against something
- pry (v) + into something: intervene/ to try to find out information about something in a way that is annoying or rude
Reading
Further reading about this topic can be found here:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/intervention-vs-nonintervention-in-international-relations.html
Listening
Further listening about this topic can be found here:
