The political imaginary of the protection of civilians (PoC) : the tension between militarism and humanitarianism in NATO and UN policy

Abstract

As a relatively new concept, Protection of Civilians (PoC) has only recently begun to be labelled as an explicit objective of interventions involving armed conflict. With its central focus being the protection of the lives of those not party to hostilities, PoC establishes itself as a fundamentally humanitarian concept. However, challenges to this humanitarian foundation emerge as PoC is coupled with interventions comprised of military components, i.e. militarism. This essay endeavors to shed light on the tension between humanitarianism and militarism within the concept of, and policies on, PoC. It advances the argument that these aspects of armed conflict and PoC clash against one another, each striving for prioritization in policies on protection. Moreover, it argues that militarism often takes precedence over humanitarian approaches to civilian protection through the dominance of the use of force. This essay employs relevant literature on PoC and international intervention to offer an examination of the implications that evolve out of the dynamic between militarism and humanitarianism. This examination is pursued through a case study of the PoC policies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (UN). The case study brings to light the challenges posed to PoC’s humanitarian credentials, which are instigated by the political imaginaries of PoC that are centered on the use of force.