Protection Against Genocide: Mission Impossible

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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.

Reviews

"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 prevented. It should be of interest to all those concerned with the protection of human rights."-Roger 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 avenue addressed--moral, legal, economic, and military--and those who address them, fairly and objectively examine not only the solutions for genocide prevention but their counterargument 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
"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

Author Bio

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.