The Shortcomings of the ‘New Humanitarianism’

Abstract

The construction of a world order and the development of the UN after the Second World War have been guided by the principle: Never again. The Nazis’ unprecedented crime against the Jews became a benchmark for an international community founded on certain basic values: opposition to genocide, the search for world peace and respect for human rights. But over the years that determination has been replaced by pragmatism. The UN, powerless as a result of superpower hostility, essentially restricted its role to development aid. The end of the Cold War raised again the idea of an international community based on shared values, administered by international institutions and defended by democratic countries. In the face of an increasing number of crises, the UN is regularly called upon to encourage negotiations, to interpose itself and to assist people at risk. However, the window of opportunity that seemed to be opening with the end of the Cold War is rapidly closing and the idea that the UN could be the guarantor of world peace is far from being realized.