Carnegie Council

People Topics

Text Size: A A

Covert Intervention as a Moral Problem [Abstract]

Ethics & International Affairs, Volume 3 (1989)

Charles R. Beitz

December 2, 1989

Today's international community may well view covert action and democracy as mutually exclusive policies. This article examines the practice of covert action in American foreign policy in light of events of the mid-1970s and 1980s, focusing on the scandalous misuse of executive authority and lack of accountability associated with covert means. Often manipulative and sometimes anonymous, covert operations raise critical morality concerns in a democratic society. Whether "any form of accountability is likely to be sufficient to bring the unauthorized use of executive power under control" is the crucial issue to be addressed when examining the practicality of covert actions by the executive branch.

To read or purchase the full text of this article, click here.

About the Journal

The Carnegie Council's flagship publication, Ethics & International Affairs is an interdisciplinary resource for scholars, students, and policy analysts concerned with the moral dimensions of global issues. The journal covers global justice, civil society, democratization, international law, intervention, sanctions, and related topics.

Search the Journal

ETHICS & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
25TH ANNIVERSARY

25 year anniversary EIA celebrates 25 years, 1987-2011

SUBSCRIPTIONS
To subscribe to Ethics & International Affairs, or to purchase individual issues and articles, please contact Cambridge University Press.

CALL FOR PAPERS
We are currently accepting submissions for upcoming issues of the journal. For more information, click here.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
For submission guidelines, click here.

RESPONSES
The Editors welcome responses to Features and Essays published in Ethics & International Affairs. To be considered for publication, responses should be no longer than one thousand words, including endnotes (which should be kept to a minimum). Responses are not peer-reviewed, and are published at the Editors' discretion. All responses are subject to editing for length and style. In the event of any questions or substantive editing, the response will be returned to the author for final approval prior to publication. Responses are published online, alongside the article they address.