Protection Against Genocide - by Neal Riemer (Hardcover)

About the Book

Without succumbing to utopian fantasies or realistic pessimism, Riemer and his contributors call for strengthening the key institutions of a global human rights regime, developing an effective policy of prudent prevention of genocide, working out a sagacious strategy of keenly targeted sanctions--political, economic, military, judicial--and adopting a guiding philosophy of just humanitarian intervention. They underscore significant changes in the international system--the end of the Cold War, economic globalization, the communications revolution-- that hold open the opportunity for significant, if modest, movement toward strengthening key institutions.

The essays explore key problems in working toward prevention of genocide. They highlight the existence of considerable early warning of genocide and emphasize that the real problem is a lack of political will in key global institutions. Sanctions, especially economic sanctions may punish a genocidal regime, but at the expense of innocent civilians. Thus, more clearly targeted sanctions are seen as essential. The argument on behalf of a standing police force to deal with the crime of genocide, as they show, is powerful and controversial: powerful because the need is persuasive, controversial because political realists question its cost and political feasibility. Implementing a philosophy of just humanitarian intervention requires an appreciation of the difficulties of interpreting those principles in difficult concrete situations. A permanent international criminal tribunal to deter and punish genocide, they argue, will put into place a much needed component of a global human rights regime. A thoughtful analysis for scholars and students of international politics and law, and human rights in general.

Book Synopsis

Without succumbing to utopian fantasies or realistic pessimism, Riemer and his contributors call for strengthening the key institutions of a global human rights regime, developing an effective policy of prudent prevention of genocide, working out a sagacious strategy of keenly targeted sanctions--political, economic, military, judicial--and adopting a guiding philosophy of just humanitarian intervention. They underscore significant changes in the international system--the end of the Cold War, economic globalization, the communications revolution-- that hold open the opportunity for significant, if modest, movement toward strengthening key institutions.

The essays explore key problems in working toward prevention of genocide. They highlight the existence of considerable early warning of genocide and emphasize that the real problem is a lack of political will in key global institutions. Sanctions, especially economic sanctions may punish a genocidal regime, but at the expense of innocent civilians. Thus, more clearly targeted sanctions are seen as essential. The argument on behalf of a standing police force to deal with the crime of genocide, as they show, is powerful and controversial: powerful because the need is persuasive, controversial because political realists question its cost and political feasibility. Implementing a philosophy of just humanitarian intervention requires an appreciation of the difficulties of interpreting those principles in difficult concrete situations. A permanent international criminal tribunal to deter and punish genocide, they argue, will put into place a much needed component of a global human rights regime. A thoughtful analysis for scholars and students of international politics and law, and human rights in general.

Review Quotes

"I am much impressed with your excellent new book, Protection Against Genocide. It is provocative, wide-ranging, and, most importantly, offers reasoned, cautious hope that genocide can be the protection of human rights."-Roger W. Smith Professor College of William and Mary Past president Association of Genocide Scholars

"Neal Riemer is to be commended not only for his convening of the Colloquium which afforded these scholars and writers the opportunity to share both their thinking and their creative solutions with the rest of us, but for his judicious editing and organization of this important volume as well. The avenues addressed--moral, legal, economic, and military--and those who address them, fairly and objectively examine not only the solutions for genocide prevention but their counterarguments as well. Protection Against Genocide: Mission Impossible? is a significant and vital contribution to our ongoing dialogue about how to prevent repetitions of genocide in this twenty-first century. It merits the widest reading audience possible."-Steven L. Jacobs International Editor The Papers of Raphael Lemkin

"Neal Riemer, Andrew V. Stout Professor of Political Philosophy, emeritus, Drew University, as a contributor to political theory equals most scholars working full time in a faculty....A current example, illustrated in this book, is the group of political scientists, sociologists, international lawyers, historians, and students of international organization, brought together to explore Protection Against Genocide: Mission Impossible?....Riemer has demonstrated a remarkable ability to build on the work of other scholars and disciplines and link them with his own scholarly efforts."-Kenneth W. Thompson former Director of the Miller Center and Professor Emeritus University of Virginia

"Protection Against Genocide offers a compelling antitode to the view that the world community is helpless in the face of genocidal massacres. The contributors document the emergence of a global human rights regime and describe creatively the legal and political means by which international actors can and should respond proactively to genocidal situations. Policy makers and scholars would gain much from reading this book."-Barbara Harff Professor Department of Political Science U.S. Naval Academy

"The most thorough study of the political and legal issues raised by genocide, this book is also a call for preventive action and for effective international protection of the victims. It is a considerable scholarly and ethical achievement."-Stanley Hoffman Buttenwieser University Professor Harvard University

"This volume of essays offers us the most serious and sophisticated attempt to approach the persistence of genocide as a world order problem to be solved by norms and institutions. Its great value lies in manifesting the tension between the political will to eliminate genocide and the formidable obstacles to doing so. We are all challenged by such an undertaking to read carefully, and to do our best to make the "impossible" happen."-Richard Falk Professor of International Law and Practice Princeton University

"This well-organized volume of essays is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on genocide in the post World War II period. The editor of the volume has done a wonderful job of organizing the essays around this central theme, and each chapter, while standing on its own, fits well into the overall framework of the book. The conviction of the authors that it would be possible to develop workable measures to prevent genocide is clear, but the essays are not characterized by a dreamy-eyed idealism. Instead, a compassionate realism pervades the discussions of such important topics as humanitarian intervention, economic sanctions, the use of force, and the development of an international criminal court. This excellent and provocative book will be of interest not only to scholars and students, but also to intelligent readers who are interested in international action on human rights."-Lawrence J. LeBlanc Professor, Marquette University

?The volume provides a needed readable series of essays by social scientists that includes excellent introductory bibliography for the general reader as well as specialists who are looking for realistic but creative analyses to debate, analyze and support policies of genocide prevention.?-Neal Reimer /Institute for the Study of Genocide Association of Genocide Scholars

?These are well-crafted essays, and the underlying theme is well made.?-International Journal

"These are well-crafted essays, and the underlying theme is well made."-International Journal

"The volume provides a needed readable series of essays by social scientists that includes excellent introductory bibliography for the general reader as well as specialists who are looking for realistic but creative analyses to debate, analyze and support policies of genocide prevention."-Neal Reimer /Institute for the Study of Genocide Association of Genocide Scholars

About the Author

NEAL RIEMER is Andrew V. Stout Professor of Political Philosophy, emeritus, Department of Political Science, Drew University. His major books include Creative Breakthroughs in Politics, Karl Marx and Prophetic Politics, The Future of the Democratic Revolution, James Madison, The Revival of Democratic Theory, and, with Douglas Simon, The New World of Politics.