Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Selective responsibility : history, power and politics in the United Nations.

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Harsant, Katy (2016) Selective responsibility : history, power and politics in the United Nations. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP_Theses_Harsant_2016.pdf - Submitted Version - Requires a PDF viewer.

Download (1998Kb) | Preview
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3072608~S15

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

This project explores the issue of selectivity within contemporary international politics, particularly in relation to the implementation of the United Nations’ Responsibility to Protect principle, from a postcolonial perspective. It argues that in order to fully understand the selective implementation of policy in contemporary contexts, it is necessary to examine the historical origins of the United Nations and to highlight the institutionalisation of postcolonial privilege in international political organisations. Through the use of archival data, it shows that the United Nations is an institution that has been committed to the perpetuation of colonial power structures through the development of new forms of government and structures of control, relying on problematic discourses of civilisation and progress that legitimate a global power structure that has its roots in colonialism. It begins with the provision of an alternative historical narrative that highlights the significance of colonialism in the founding of the United Nations and that seeks to undermine the discourse of equality that is frequently attributed to the organisation. It then moves on to explore more concrete examples of the structures of the United Nations that have allowed for the continuation of colonial power relations before examining these ideas in relation to the contemporary politics of intervention, particularly focusing on the role of the Security Council as the locus of postcolonial and neocolonial power.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects: K Law [Moys] > KC International Law
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): United Nations. Security Council, United Nations -- History, Responsibility to protect (International law), Humanitarian intervention, Postcolonialism, Power (Social sciences)
Official Date: September 2016
Dates:
DateEvent
September 2016Submitted
Institution: University of Warwick
Theses Department: Department of Sociology
Thesis Type: PhD
Publication Status: Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: Bhambra, Gurminder K. ; Osuri, Goldie
Sponsors: Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain)
Format of File: pdf
Extent: 268 leaves
Language: eng

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us