Humanitarian Intervention, Refugee Protection, and the Place of Humanitarianism in International Relations

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Political Science
Degree name
Master of Arts
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Political and Social Sciences
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2012
Authors
White, Tari
Abstract

In taking into account the vast body of literature that exists on the topic of international humanitarianism, this thesis aims to provide a contribution to the field by way of an analysis of the dubious manner in which states apply the principles of humanitarianism. It derives conclusions around the level of commitment and sincerity of the international humanitarian regime to the principles of humanitarianism by exploring the dynamic relationship between the two of the main areas of humanitarianism: humanitarian intervention and refugee protection. From this analysis stems the argument is that while the governments of the wealthy Western states are often amongst the loudest trumpeters of humanitarian principles, they fail to live up to their humanitarian obligations. For, rather than committing to humanitarian action on the basis of need, they are only willing to commit to humanitarian action in cases that serve in their own national interests; cases of human suffering from which they do not stand to benefit remain caught in the margins of the international humanitarian regime.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Humanitarian intervention, refugees, refugee protection, military intervention, humanitarianism, human rights
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
Copyright Tari White