How do the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence influence international interactions, especially global diplomacy and foreign policy? Discuss how these values influence the activities and choices of governments and international organizations. Furthermore, investigate scenarios in which these principles may conflict, such as humanitarian interventions, economic sanctions, or military actions, and examine the difficulties policymakers face in balancing the need to do good (beneficence) with the imperative to avoid harm (non-maleficence) to populations both domestically and internationally.
The ethical principles of beneficence (doing good) and non-maleficence (avoiding harm) are fundamental in guiding international interactions, including global diplomacy and foreign policy. These principles influence the activities and choices of governments and international organizations in various ways:
Scenarios where these principles may conflict:
Challenges faced by policymakers:
To address these challenges, policymakers can: