Have just found this community, and wanted to say - well done! On the essay and on being part of a growing anti-genocide community the world around.
I have to agree with both of you - yes we CAN stop genocide, but no, it doesn't always mean putting troops on the ground. The Responsibility to Protect doctrine (AKA R2P), which the General Assembly of the UN agreed to at the 2005 World Summit, argues that if a country abdicates its responsibility to protect ALL its citizens, then the responsibility falls to the international community, and has been the major doctrine governing the international response to Darfur, and now to crises such as Burma and Kenya. (check it out at http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org). Importantly, however, it has a very precise checklist of diplomatic and economic pressures the international community should bring to bear before attempting any sort of military solution to a conflict. My point here is that boots on the ground, military offensives, etc can be very effective, when used appropriately (think Kosovo), but when used in poorly researched situations (think Somalia) can have a massively detrimental effect.
Also, wanted to point you to a resource for the number of genocides since 1945. Dr. Barbara Harff, formerly of the US Naval Academy, has created a comprehensive list of all genocides/politicides since 1945 - nearly 40 episodes. If you google her and "list of genocides" you'll find it in no time. It's well regarded by genocide scholars and considered the most comprehensive list thus far collected.
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Date: 2008-02-17 03:04 pm (UTC)I have to agree with both of you - yes we CAN stop genocide, but no, it doesn't always mean putting troops on the ground. The Responsibility to Protect doctrine (AKA R2P), which the General Assembly of the UN agreed to at the 2005 World Summit, argues that if a country abdicates its responsibility to protect ALL its citizens, then the responsibility falls to the international community, and has been the major doctrine governing the international response to Darfur, and now to crises such as Burma and Kenya. (check it out at http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org). Importantly, however, it has a very precise checklist of diplomatic and economic pressures the international community should bring to bear before attempting any sort of military solution to a conflict. My point here is that boots on the ground, military offensives, etc can be very effective, when used appropriately (think Kosovo), but when used in poorly researched situations (think Somalia) can have a massively detrimental effect.
Also, wanted to point you to a resource for the number of genocides since 1945. Dr. Barbara Harff, formerly of the US Naval Academy, has created a comprehensive list of all genocides/politicides since 1945 - nearly 40 episodes. If you google her and "list of genocides" you'll find it in no time. It's well regarded by genocide scholars and considered the most comprehensive list thus far collected.