MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT: USING POLITICAL INERTIA TO PROTECT CIVILIANS

• Published in: Boston College international and comparative law review Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 209 - 240
• Main Author: Rose, Steven J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newton Centre Boston College School of Law 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Arab Spring; Armed forces; Civilians; Councils; Demonstrations & protests; Foreign policy; History; Human rights; Humanitarian Intervention; Humanitarianism; International; International law; International relations; Landscape; Law; Libya; Military air strikes; Military aircraft; Politics; Presidents; Protection of Civilians; Reform; Reforms; Sanctions; Syria; Torture; Treaties; Violations; Violence
• ISSN: 0277-5778

First formulated in 2005, the Responsibility to Protect has emerged onto the international legal landscape. This doctrine recently was expressed in the 2011 United Nations-authorized humanitarian intervention in Libya. Despite this promising start, the doctrine-designed to protect civilians from violence caused by their government or violence which the government is powerless to stop-has done nothing for the civilians in Syria. This Note explores the history of the Responsibility to Protect, identifies its flaws, analyzes proposed reforms, and ends with a suggested revision to the doctrine. This suggested revision would allow the political inertia of states to work for, rather than against, civilians. Adapted from the source document.