Absolutely stimulating discussion today by our delegates, as they became more comfortable with each other, willing to interject freely and disagree on issues. Moderator Chris O’Keefe began the day framing the day’s topic with the question: ‘Does the international community have the capability to preemptively end or stop genocide from occurring and if yes, should they?’ One problem we face in the promulgation of genocide awareness and its prevention stems from the American public’s increasingly desensitization to graphic images and videos from conflict zones. This result poses a difficult obstacle to those championing the prevention of genocide. Particularly fascinating to the group was what constitutes the difference in action in Libya and Darfur by the US and the international community? Is it too cynical to assume the disparity in response lies in the variance in national interest and popularity of the two issues? The existence of oil, difference in race, and availability of internet coverage especially videos and pictures all play an integral role in the difference in policy.
Moving on, the roundtable first postulated that active military intervention can prevent genocide, yet on closer introspection many came to believe that military force has never been ultimately successful. Instead, the answer lies in development. Creating an infrastructure that enables international awareness in a region, augments the standard of living, and educates the inhabitants should be the goal of policy makers around the world. When has there been genocide in an area of relative affluence? Never. The answer of development poses other questions that we could not answer definitively but many conjectures were debated. Who will bring this development? Private companies and corporations looking for natural resources, cheap labor, and an untapped population could be a possibility. Conversely, governments may have an incentive to aid in development in return for favorable trade deals, alliances, and control over natural resources. China’s funding of development in Africa may be an example of this policy. Where does the United States fit into this situation? Indubitably, the US cannot repeat its nation building efforts to the extent of Iraq and Afghanistan, yet we must act to preserve our humanitarian values to the best of our ability.
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