Dealing with the Rohingya crisis: The relevance of the general assembly and R2P

In: Asian journal of comparative politics: AJCP, Band 5, Heft 2, S. 121-143

Abstract

This article explores the causes of the United Nations' inertia in dealing with the Rohingya crisis since its beginning in August 2017. Here we argue that the United Nations' inherent structural weaknesses contribute to its indecisiveness in taking any effective and timely measures when faced with a humanitarian crisis. We further argue that weaknesses of the United Nations have their origins in the creation of the organization and its sole dependency on the decisions of the five permanent members of the Security Council for any intervention in humanitarian crises. In the conclusion, we consider the prospect of the General Assembly in light of the globally recognized Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine as an alternative to resolve this inherent weakness and the obstacles to taking effective and timely measures in dealing with Rohingya-like situations.