Protection Against Genocide: Mission Impossible?

A collection of essays exploring 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 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.