04 Oct Russia-China Double Veto on Syria Resolution
Russian and China issue a dramatic double veto of the US-backed measure directed against Syria; nine Council members voted in favor, and India, Brazil, South Africa, and Lebanon abstained. Welcome to the New Post-Hegemonic World Order? It’s too soon to tell and our Data Set is insufficiently full. Still, it does recall David Rieff’s observation that a multipolar world is more competitive, not more cooperative. I don’t know where this leaves such things as R2P and in particular R2P undertaken without the blessing of the Security Council; I’d be interested in hearing Mark’s views if he wanted to take time to say what he thinks this means, if anything. I do believe that if one focuses narrowly upon international criminal law, tribunals, and the ICC, one will conclude one thing about the direction of the “international community” – but if one pays attention to the Security Council or the General Assembly, one will conclude something else.
Speaking of which- can anyone refer me to good legal literature on R2P undertaken without SC endorsement? and/or similarly UNGA actions (Res. 337 styled) resulting from SC veto power? Thanks.
I made the assumption that by Mark, Kenneth meant me and wrote up a brief post on the topic: https://opiniojuris.org/2011/10/05/no-surprise-why-libya-but-not-syria/
Mark – thanks for the extended answer in the post above and for getting it up so quickly. It’s very substantive, thanks; a couple of readers had emailed asking if you were going to address the SC vote so I thought I’d just give you a shout-out. Thanks!
I’m very pleased and honoured to get the shout out and to know that some of OJ’s readers are so interested in my opinions on these issues. Thanks again Kenneth!