The Role of Individual States in Addressing Cases of Genocide

In: Human rights review: HRR, Band 5, Heft 4, S. 32-45

Abstract

Examines the imperative of leading governments, & Western states in particular, in timely prevention & intervention in the event of future genocidal activity. Political, economic, legal & moral obligations are listed as general global responsibilities. Britain, France & the United States as leading Western states have a greater duty in preventive roles because of their post World War II commitments, their design of the present liberal order & their combined military, economic & cultural influence. The author then evaluates the crises in Rwanda, Bosnia & Kosovo with regard to Western state performance & finds America's participation particularly tardy, obfuscatory & pusillanimous. The narrow view of genocide as a humanitarian interest is typically assigned the lowest level of priority in national security policy & as such needs redefining by genocide scholars. This definition is mandatory to educate state leaders about the global threat posed by future barbarity. Author concludes that overcoming Westphalian-based objections to humanitarian intervention is needed as well as integrating humanitarian, national security communities & genocide scholars. S. de Haast