The ethics of diplomatic criticism: The Responsibility to Protect, Just War Theory and Presumptive Last Resort.

If the criticism is widely upheld, the subsequent loss of legitimacy might be significant not only for the state’s interests (e.g. as it is barred from membership of international bodies and loses trade agreements), but also its self-identity (e.g. as its view of itself as a force for good in the international system is challenged). 6 Consequently, if we accept that states care about the loss of legitimacy, and that diplomatic criticism is important for leading to such a loss, states will sometimes be keen to redress the situation at hand in response to diplomatic criticism, or under the threat of such criticism.

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