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The 'responsibility to protect' is a principle that holds states accountable for protecting their citizens from mass atrocities, challenging traditional notions of sovereignty.
The 'responsibility to protect' (R2P) is a normative principle in international relations that emerged in the early 21st century. It asserts that sovereignty is not just about power, but also about responsibility. Traditionally, sovereignty has been understood as the absolute and unlimited power of a state within its own territory, free from external interference. However, the R2P principle challenges this notion by arguing that states have a responsibility to protect their populations from mass atrocities such as genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.
The R2P principle was endorsed by all member states of the United Nations at the 2005 World Summit. It is based on three pillars: the responsibility of the state to protect its populations, the responsibility of the international community to assist states in fulfilling this duty, and the responsibility of the international community to intervene when states are unable or unwilling to protect their populations.
The R2P principle has significant implications for the concept of sovereignty. It suggests that sovereignty is not an absolute right, but a responsibility. If a state fails to protect its citizens from mass atrocities, it forfeits its claim to non-interference and the international community has a responsibility to intervene. This represents a shift from the traditional Westphalian concept of sovereignty, which emphasises non-interference and territorial integrity, towards a more cosmopolitan understanding of sovereignty as responsibility.
However, the R2P principle is not without controversy. Critics argue that it can be used as a pretext for powerful states to intervene in the affairs of weaker states under the guise of humanitarian intervention. Others question the selectivity and inconsistency of its application, pointing out that interventions often occur in strategically important regions, while atrocities in other parts of the world are ignored. Despite these criticisms, the R2P principle represents a significant development in our understanding of sovereignty and the responsibilities of states towards their citizens.
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