The term coalition of the willing refers to a temporary international partnership created for the purpose of achieving a particular objective, usually of military or political nature.[1]
Origin
editThe term was coined in the early 1970s by MIT professor Lincoln P. Bloomfield and his colleagues, including Harland Cleveland of the University of Minnesota.[2] In July 1971, Bloomfield described the need for a coalition of willing nations to support important peacekeeping or conflict stabilization goals endorsed by the UN, in a NYT op-ed.[3] The term was picked up by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in a 1973 letter to Bloomfield, acknowledging the latter's "proposal for 'coalitions of the willing'."[4] On May 9, 1988, Cleveland wrote a letter 'for the record' to the Editor of Foreign Affairs making clear that Bloomfield was the originator of the phrase, first published in his 1974 book In Search of American Foreign Policy.[5] In 2002, Bloomfield published another op-ed, insisting that Cleveland share credit for the phrase.[2]
Usage
editThe term was used by President Bill Clinton in June 1994 in relation to possible operations against North Korea, at the height of the 1994 stand-off with the country over nuclear weapons.[6]
In his letter introducing the 2002 National Security Strategy, President George W. Bush emphasized the important role of "coalitions of the willing."[7]
Coalition of the willing referred to the US-led Multi-National Force – Iraq, the military command during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and much of the ensuing Iraq War.[8]
It has also been applied to the Australian-led INTERFET operation in East Timor from 1999 until 2000.[9][10]
In the early 2000s, Hungary’s Ambassador to the U.S. Andras Simonyi formed a charity rock band he named "Coalition of the Willing" with former Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and U.S. officials, including then-Assistant Secretary of State Lincoln Bloomfield Jr.[11][12]
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves referred to the partnership of former president of Cuba Fidel Castro, former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning and former president of Venezuela Hugo Chávez for the construction of the Argyle International Airport as “the Coalition of the Willing," with a display dedicated to it located at the airport.[13][14][15] Manning also sought to create a "coalition of the willing" in the form of an economic union with member states from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States in 2008.[16][17][18]
The People's Partnership administration of former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar which won the 2010 Trinidad and Tobago general election has been referenced as a "coalition of the willing."[19][20]
References
edit- ^ Rodiles, Alejandro, ed. (2018), "The Conceptual Metaphor 'Coalition of the Willing'", Coalitions of the Willing and International Law: The Interplay between Formality and Informality, Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 10–37, ISBN 978-1-108-49365-9, retrieved August 7, 2024
- ^ a b "'Coalition of the willing' is world's best weapon". The Baltimore Sun. April 21, 2002. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Bloomfield, Lincoln P. (July 21, 1971). "Resurrecting the United Nations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Nov 23 1973 Henry Kissinger response" (PDF). PalmerCoates. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "H Cleveland attribution letter" (PDF). PalmerCoates. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ Ibiblio.org (originally official White House release), Interview with the President by Sam Donaldson ABC, June 5, 1994.
- ^ "The National Security Strategy of the United States of America September 2002" (PDF). National Security Strategy Archive. September 17, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "Bush: Join 'coalition of willing'". CNN. November 20, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Peace enforcement through a global organisation: the United Nations and INTERFET in East Timor - Summary". Cambridge University Press. November 10, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Shaping East Timor: A Dimension of United Nations Peacekeeping". Columbia International Affairs Online. March 2001. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Pohl, Otto (January 14, 2005). "Diplomats Who Rock". New York Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "The Foreign Service Journal vol.82, no.7" (PDF). American Foreign Service Association. July 2005. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Genter, JT. "Quite an interesting "coalition of the willing" on display at the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines airport 🤔 - Fidel Castro (Cuba) - Patrick Manning (Trinidad and Tobago) - Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)". X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ "Cuban President in St Vincent on official State visit | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Clare (2022-12-04). "President of Cuba arrives in St Vincent and the Grenadines for three-day visit - Searchlight". www.searchlight.vc. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "SKNVibes | PM Manning seeks "coalition of the willing"". www.sknvibes.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Patrick Manning, former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has died". Antillean Media Group. 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Regional Integration | Trinidad and Tobago News Blog". 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Maharaj, Sat. "PP celebrated one year after". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "The end of 'Kamlamania'?". Stabroek News. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
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