THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT" (R2P) CARE OR GREED? THE UNITED NATIONS DOCTRINE

Abstract

This study discusses a topic of great interest and importance to the world of politics and International Relations. It focuses on a somewhat new concept in politics called the "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P) or (RtoP) or simply put "Politics of Protection." This research argues that the R2P poses a great threat to the sovereignty of states only if it doesn’t have the right mechanisms of implementation. However, since no involvement in a crisis should (theoretically) take place except after getting a UN mandate to legitimize the action, then there is no direct threat. Also, the veto power plays a major role in the implementation and limitation of R2P as it mainly balances the power of the U.S. and western states with that of Russia and China on issues of intervention.