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Question 10: Values and CultureAre values such as human rights, democracy, respect for diversity and gender
equality ones that Canada should continue to advocate in all parts of the world?
If so, what are the best ways of doing this? |
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| Contributor: | russilwvong |
| Date: |
2003-05-01 01:59:21 |
| Answer: |
Let me focus on one issue: what can we do when faced with massive human rights violations--specifically, when people are getting slaughtered? In the past decade Bosnia and Rwanda are the best-known cases.
The obvious answer is to say that the international community should intervene, with military force if necessary. But if the answer is so obvious, why did it take the international community so long to respond in Bosnia, and why did it entirely fail to respond in Rwanda?
I think the reason is pretty straightforward: nations don't go to war for altruistic reasons. They go to war only when vital national interests are at stake. Otherwise, they're not willing to send their soldiers into battle, to fight, to kill, and to die. George Washington's comment comes to mind: nations pursue their own interests. "It is vain to exclaim against the depravity of human nature on this account; the fact is so, the experience of every age and nation has proved it and we must in a great measure, change the constitution of man, before we can make it otherwise. No institution, not built on the presumptive truth of these maxims can succeed."
If we accept Michael Ignatieff's argument that we have *some* obligation to try to protect people everywhere from cruelty and murder, how can we do so? Empty promises of protection by the international community (e.g. the convention against genocide) have been demonstrated to be worthless. I think the most likely answer is some kind of regional intervention. The countries in the region are going to be the ones with a direct interest in stability, and hence the willingness to commit military forces. In the case of Africa, the regional powers would be Nigeria and South Africa.
Recommended reading: Michael Ignatieff, "The Warrior's Honour." Mark Danner's articles on Bosnia (available on his website). Philip Gourevitch, "we are writing to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families." Samantha Power, "A Problem from Hell." "Crimes of War", ed. Roy Gutman and David Rieff. |
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