France, Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect

'This excellent book brings to light new and original claims. The first is cultural and historical: the part played by France in the R2P story has not received the attention it deserves. The second is theoretical: the book shows the complex interplay of domestic norms with evolving international standards and expectations associated with the humanitarian intervention debates in the 1980s and 1990s, and subsequently the R2P framework adopted in the early 2000s. Through detailed and empirical work, Staunton persuasively shows that in different historical periods, France has both driven forward, and sometimes disrupted, the emerging international human protection regime.' Tim Dunne, Professor of International Relations and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, The University of Queensland 'France is a critically important but as yet little understood player in the struggle against genocide and mass atrocities. In this important new book, Eglantine Staunton combines deep insights drawn from French and other sources with fine-grained analysis and an eye for detail. The result is a compelling account of the evolution of French thinking and practice over the past few decades that adds fresh insight to our understanding of the global politics of humanitarianism. It is a must-read.' Alex J. Bellamy, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland 'A rich exploration of the history of one of the most prominent - though also most overlooked - responsibility to protect proponents: France. Staunton's important contribution argues that France's views towards humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect have been framed as much by the role played by domestic politics reflecting a unique conception of human protection as by international norms.' Phil Orchard, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Wollongong -- .