From Libya to Syria: Assessing the Impact of the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine on Global Intervention Strategies

This article examines how the implementation of the Responsibility to Protect (r2p) doctrine in Libya has impacted the international community’s attitude towards intervening in Syria. The central research question addressed is: ‘How has the implementation of the r2p doctrine in Libya influenced the international community’s response to the Syrian crisis?’ The analysis contends that the evolution of the Libya intervention – from protecting civilians to debatably facilitating regime change – has cast a shadow over r2p, leading major powers to approach the idea of intervening in Syria with caution. This article addresses the complex Syrian conflict and questions the potential of realist motivations, such as resource security, to justify intervention. Ultimately, it advocates for a nuanced approach that balances ethical imperatives with geopolitical realities, suggesting that a clearer understanding of states’ identities and motives, informed by constructivist perspectives, is essential for formulating effective and ethically sound strategies for civilian protection under r2p.