Abstract

“At this time of extreme challenges, we must not abandon the responsibility to protect or leave it in a state of suspended animation, finely articulated in words but breached time and again in practice.” António Guterres 2018. Since the 1990s, the international community has utilized a growing range of measures to protect populations from mass atrocities, war crimes, genocides and crimes against humanity; however, the numbers of victims, casualties and human losses are increasing daily all over the world. The international community is still unable to protect civilians most in need and those under real threat, even while applying the principle of the humanitarian intervention. The international response to the crisis in Libya during its popular uprising in 2011 was remarkably quick and decisive; the UNSC endorsed for the first time in history a resolution (1973) to authorize the international intervention in another state, to protect civilians under threat, without the approval of its government; in this regards, the adoption of such resolution was declared a turning point in the history of the principle of the Responsibility to Protect. The principle of humanitarian intervention has always been a debatable issue; while most studies focus on the dilemma of its legality, ethics, morality, types and intervening actors, this research focuses on evaluating its outcome and analyzing the factors contributed to its success/failure, while having Libya as a case study. After the intervention in Libya, the country has been characterized by state collapse, anarchy and chaos, and the intervention was considered a failure to the international community and to the principle of the responsibility to protect. In this regards, this research argues that the intervention of the international community in Libya was responsible for the intensification of the sufferings, deterioration and threats facing the civilians in Libya post the intervention stage. While clarifying that the abuse of the international intervention and the fragility of the Libyan state are the main factors behind the collapse of Libya. In addition, this research draws lessons for the future of the principle.

Department

Political Science Department

Degree Name

MA in Political Science

Graduation Date

Spring 9-5-2018

Submission Date

9-5-2018

First Advisor

ElNur, Ibrahim; Bahi, Riham

Committee Member 1

Nadine Sika, Amal Hamada

Committee Member 2

NA

Committee Member 3

NA

Extent

112p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

Comments

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisors Dr. Ibrahim ElNur and Dr. Riham Bahi for their continuous support of my MA study and related research, for their patience, motivation, and immense knowledge. Their guidance helped me in all the time of research and writing of this dissertation. I could not have imagined having better advisors and mentors for my MA study. Besides my advisors, I would like to thank the members of my thesis committee: Dr. Nadine Sika and Dr. Amal Hamada for their insightful comments, critiques and encouragements. Last but not least, I would like to thank my family: my parents and my brother for their support throughout writing this thesis and in my life in general. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank You

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