Intervention in Libya: The Responsibility to Protect in North Africa

The 2011 crisis in Libya was the first case where the international community invoked the Responsibility to Protect principle to justify coercive measures, including sanctions and military force. This study by Karin Wester reconstructs and analyzes the evolution of the crisis, the international community's response, and how the principle was applied. It challenges popular narratives that the intervention was driven by western interests or regime change and reveals how the principle was realized but also provided a fragile basis for military enforcement action.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 365 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The 2011 crisis in Libya stands as a groundbreaking moment in international relations, marking the first instance where the international community invoked the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle, adopted by United Nations (UN) member states in 2005, to justify coercive measures, including sanctions and the use of military force. In this comprehensive study, Karin Wester meticulously reconstructs and analyzes the evolution of the Libyan crisis, the international community's response, and the manner in which the R2P was applied. Drawing on a diverse range of primary sources, including in-depth interviews with politicians and diplomats, this comprehensive account of the 2011 intervention in Libya challenges prevailing narratives that suggest the intervention was driven solely by Western (neo-colonial) interests or a desire for regime change. Instead, Wester reveals how the R2P principle was partially realized but also how it provided a highly fragile basis for military enforcement action. By incorporating perspectives from international law, political science, and history, this study offers a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the real-world application of a principle that is deeply rooted in history but presents daunting challenges in implementation.

The 2011 crisis in Libya represents a significant turning point in international relations, as it was the first instance where the international community invoked the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle to justify coercive measures, including sanctions and the use of military force. In this comprehensive study, Karin Wester meticulously reconstructs and analyzes the evolution of the Libyan crisis, the international community's response, and the manner in which the R2P was applied. Drawing on a diverse range of primary sources, including in-depth interviews with politicians and diplomats, this comprehensive account of the 2011 intervention in Libya challenges prevailing narratives that suggest the intervention was driven solely by Western (neo-colonial) interests or a desire for regime change. Instead, Wester reveals how the R2P principle was partially realized but also how it provided a highly fragile basis for military enforcement action. By incorporating perspectives from international law, political science, and history, this study offers a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the real-world application of a principle that is deeply rooted in history but presents daunting challenges in implementation.

The 2011 crisis in Libya stands as a pivotal moment in international relations, marking the first instance where the international community invoked the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle to justify coercive measures, including sanctions and the use of military force. In this comprehensive study, Karin Wester meticulously reconstructs and analyzes the evolution of the Libyan crisis, the international community's response, and the manner in which the R2P was applied. Drawing on a diverse range of primary sources, including in-depth interviews with politicians and diplomats, this comprehensive account of the 2011 intervention in Libya challenges prevailing narratives that suggest the intervention was driven solely by Western (neo-colonial) interests or a desire for regime change. Instead, Wester reveals how the R2P principle was partially realized but also how it provided a highly fragile basis for military enforcement action. By incorporating perspectives from international law, political science, and history, this study offers a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the real-world application of a principle that is deeply rooted in history but presents daunting challenges in implementation.

The 2011 crisis in Libya represents a significant turning point in international relations, as it was the first instance where the international community invoked the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle to justify coercive measures, including sanctions and the use of military force. In this comprehensive study, Karin Wester meticulously reconstructs and analyzes the evolution of the Libyan crisis, the international community's response, and the manner in which the R2P was applied. Drawing on a diverse range of primary sources, including in-depth interviews with politicians and diplomats, this comprehensive account of the 2011 intervention in Libya challenges prevailing narratives that suggest the intervention was driven solely by Western (neo-colonial) interests or a desire for regime change. Instead, Wester reveals how the R2P principle was partially realized but also how it provided a highly fragile basis for military enforcement action. By incorporating perspectives from international law, political science, and history, this study offers a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the real-world application of a principle that is deeply rooted in history but presents daunting challenges in implementation.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108701853