Never Again?: The United States and the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide since the Holocaust [Paperback]

Peter Ronayne's Never Again? provides the reader with a provocative and comprehensive first look at American foreign policy as it relates to the prevention and punishment of genocide since the Holocaust. In the aftermath of World War II the United States and the world pledged to 'never again' allow genocidal atrocities. Never Again? reveals that too often this bold promise has been a failed promise. The book chronicles how the United States has repeatedly missed opportunities or 'ethical leadership moments' to stand up for human rights and save hundreds of thousands of lives when faced with genocide in Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda. At the same time, Ronayne explores how the U.S. has taken important action to bring about justice in the aftermath of genocidal crimes, despite its initial reluctance to even ratify the Genocide Convention. From this dual record of striking failures and important accomplishments emerge provocative questions about the United States' leadership on the world stage, global ethics and morality, and America's commitment to genocide prevention and punishment in the 21st century.Peter Ronayne is senior faculty member at the Federal Executive Institute, in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is adjunct professor at the University of Virginia.

Peter Ronayne has provided us with a mirror. With unflinching candor, in the harsh light of reality, he has measured our behavior against our stated goals. While he does not like all that he sees, he does not succumb to despair. Skillfully avoiding the shoals of self-righteous moralism and self-defeating cynicism, this study is itself a moral act-a genuine inquiry into who we are and who we want to be. Joel H. Rosenthal, president, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

This is a well-written, measured, and reflective survey of how far the United States' actions have fallen short of its rhetoric and potential, and the standards it applies to other states. This book very usefully illustratlÓÏ