Theorising the Responsibility to Protect

This book relates the Responsibility to Protect to existing bodies of theory on the nature and foundations of political and international order.

Ramesh Thakur (Edited by), William Maley (Edited by)

9781107041073, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 July 2015

356 pages, 3 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.3 cm, 0.64 kg

'… an outstanding collection of well-referenced contributions from a broad spectrum of cultures and experience.' John Sanderson, Australian Institute of International Affairs

One of the most important developments in world politics in the last decade has been the spread of the idea that state sovereignty comes with responsibilities as well as privileges, and that there exists a global responsibility to protect people threatened by mass atrocities. The principle of the Responsibility to Protect is an acknowledgment by all who live in zones of safety of a duty of care towards those in zones of danger. Thakur and Maley argue that this principle has not been discussed sufficiently in the context of international and political theory, in particular the nature and foundations of political and international order and the strength and legitimacy of the state. The book brings together a range of authors to discuss the different ways in which the Responsibility to Protect can be theorised, using case studies to locate the idea within wider traditions of moral responsibilities in international relations.

Part I. Context: 1. Introduction. Theorising global responsibilities Ramesh Thakur and William Maley
2. The evolution of the Responsibility to Protect: from concept and principle to actionable norm Gareth Evans
3. From the right to persecute to the Responsibility to Protect: Feuerbachian inversions of rights and responsibilities in state-citizen relations Charles Sampford and Ramesh Thakur
4. R2P and a theory of norm circulation Amitav Acharya
Part II. The Responsibility to Protect, Normative Theory, and Global Governance: 5. Responsibility to Protect and world order Tim Dunne
6. International law and the Responsibility to Protect Michael Byers
7. The Responsibility to Protect, multilateralism and international legitimacy Edward Newman
8. Global governance and the Responsibility to Protect Abiodun Williams
9. International law, the Responsibility to Protect, and international crises Jean-Marc Coicaud
10. The Responsibility to Protect and the just war tradition Alex J. Bellamy
11. War is not the answer: R2P and military intervention Jonathan Graubart
Part III. The Responsibility to Protect and International Social Purposes: 12. United Nations peacekeeping and the Responsibility to Protect Mats Berdal
13. Humanitarian law, refugee protection, and the Responsibility to Protect William Maley
14. Is the Responsibility to Protect doctrine gender-neutral? Susan Harris Rimmer
15. The Responsibility to Protect: a western idea? Jacinta O'Hagan
16. Colonialism and the Responsibility to Protect Siddharth Mallavarapu.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS]