Humanitarian Space and International Politics : The Creation of Safe Areas

"The creation of safe areas poses a number of difficult challenges to the spatial and normative organization of contemporary international politics. As a result, academics, practitioners and NGOs alike will find the case studies in this informative book essential reading. Hikaru Yamashita firstly looks at the case of northern Iraq after the first Iraqi war, where safe areas represented a major departure from the conventional notion. The different understandings of the Srebrenica safe areas, especially with regard to the role of security, are also assessed to ascertain how they eventually destroyed this humanitarian space. A much-needed account of the extent to which humanitarian space, intended as shelter in response to Rwandan genocide, consequently destabilized the area and provided cover for the genocideurs is additionally provided. This well-researched book, through the prism of safe areas, allows a measured assessment to be made of the place of human rights and humanitarianism in the contemporary world."--Provided by publisher Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 List of Charts 8 Acknowledgements 9 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms 11 Introduction: The Beginning of a New Era? 16 A ‘New’ Humanitarian Device? 16 Safe Areas as Humanitarian Spaces 18 1. A Conceptual Analysis of Humanitarian Space 23 Spatial Practice and Humanitarian Space 23 The Spatial Order of International Politics 24 Three Models of Humanitarian Space 31 Conclusion 39 2. ‘Safe Haven’ in Northern Iraq: From Shelter to Homeland 48 Background 48 Resolution 688 51 The ‘Safe Haven’ Plan 60 Allied and UN ‘Havens’ 64 Expanding the Haven: Towards a Kurdish Homeland 69 Sustaining the Homeland 73 The Kurdistan Regional Government 77 Conclusion 82 3. ‘Safe Area’ in Srebrenica: The Dilemma of Military Protection 100 Background 101 Earlier Safe Area Plans 103 Resolution 819 112 Humanitarian Space and the Issue of Security 114 The Fall 123 Conclusion 128 4. ‘Safe Humanitarian Zone’ in Rwanda: A Nebulous Humanitarian Space 148 Background 148 Humanitarian Spaces in Kigali 154 Resolution 918 160 Safe Humanitarian Zone 165 Constructing Two Territories 171 Destabilizing the Region 176 Conclusion 181 Conclusion: The End of an Era? 199 Humanitarian Space in Practice 199 Critical Implications for International Politics 205 A Return to the Old Order? 207 Bibliography 210 Index 225 Chapter Introduction: The Beginning of a New Era? -- chapter 1 A Conceptual Analysis of Humanitarian Space -- chapter 2 'Safe Haven' in Northern Iraq: From Shelter to Homeland -- chapter 3 'Safe Area' in Srebrenica: The Dilemma of Military Protection -- chapter 4 'Safe Humanitarian Zone' in Rwanda: A Nebulous Humanitarian Space "This book, through the prism of safe areas, allows a measured assessment to be made of the place of human rights and humanitarianism in the contemporary world."--Jacket The 1990s saw a flurry of measures whereby areas were vaguely designated as 'safe areas'.