Newman, E (2018) The Limits of Liberal Humanitarianism in Europe: The ‘Responsibility to Protect’ and Forced Migration. European Review of International Studies, 4 (2-3). pp. 59-77. ISSN 2196-6923
Abstract
This article explores the response of Europe to the refugee ‘crisis’ since 2015 and considers if this is a reasonable test of the region’s commitment to international humanitarianism and the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ principle (R2P). This response is explored both in terms of policy decisions and the political discourse used to frame the nature of the challenge, which weighs humanitarian obligations against the needs of ‘security’, ‘societal cohesion’ and ‘burden sharing’. The article argues that the European response to the refugee crisis exposes internal contradictions and limitations in liberal humanitarianism more broadly, as well as fundamental problems with R2P even amongst those countries which champion the principle. Theoretically, the paper draws upon debates about securitization, humanitarian norms, and liberal politics. Empirically, the paper analyses elite discourse and policy decisions within Europe, as well as UN statistical data on forced migration.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an author produced version of a paper published in European Review of International Studies. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Forced migration; ‘Responsibility to Protect’; securitization; Europe |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Politics & International Studies (POLIS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 28 Mar 2018 13:31 |
Last Modified: | 15 May 2018 23:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Verlag Barbara Budrich |
Identification Number: | 10.3224/eris.v4i2-3.04 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:129055 |