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The Transnational Politics of Warfare Accountability: Human Rights Watch vs. the Israel Defense Forces

Vennesson, Pascal, Rajkovic, Nikolas M. (2012) The Transnational Politics of Warfare Accountability: Human Rights Watch vs. the Israel Defense Forces. International Relations, 26 (4). pp. 409-429. ISSN 0047-1178. (doi:10.1177/0047117812445450) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:33301)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0047117812445450

Abstract

Transnational human rights networks span the globe, and have become more numerous and influential since the 1970s. Yet we still know relatively little about the strategic interaction between transnational advocates and their targeted state actors. Focusing on such a strategic interaction, we argue that transnational advocacy is less a diffusion of authority away from state actors than a change in the ways in which the politics of accountability is conducted between sophisticated state and non-state actors. In particular, we show that targeted actors (e.g. impugned states) can develop their own discursive capacities to challenge the facts and interpretations offered by transnational advocates and 'turn the tables' on them, expanding the scope of accountability to include the conduct of NGOs themselves. Empirically, we examine the efforts made by Human Rights Watch (HRW) to make the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accountable during the Second Lebanon War of 2006 and the Gaza war of 2008-9.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/0047117812445450
Uncontrolled keywords: Human rights; Humanitarian intervention; International security; Lawfare; Middle East; NGOs; Transnational advocacy
Subjects: K Law
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > Kent Law School
Depositing User: Sarah Slowe
Date Deposited: 04 Mar 2013 11:54 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:10 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/33301 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Rajkovic, Nikolas M..

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