Fulfilling the Promise: The Reagan Administration and the Ratification of the Genocide Convention
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Keywords
Genocide Convention, Genocide, Human Rights, Treaty Ratification, Reagan Administration, American Bar Association, Ad Hoc Committee on Human Rights and Genocide Treaties, U.S. Senate, Cold War
Department
Political Science
Major
International Studies and Hispanic Studies
Abstract
The failure of the U.S. to ratify many international human rights treaties has attracted considerable scholarly attention. Successful instances of ratification have attracted less attention but may be more important to understand. This research seeks to provide a detailed account of the Reagan administration's ratification of the Genocide Convention in November of 1988, almost forty years after it was signed. Based on extensive research in the papers of President Reagan, this project concludes that a shift in human rights policy in light of Cold War politics, effective executive-legislative negotiations, persistent interest group lobbying, and the sacrifice of treaty substance for the symbolic victory of ratification, all played a role in helping Reagan "fulfill the promise made by Harry Truman to all the peoples of the world." Based on this case, this research offers lessons applicable to other human rights treaties pending in the Senate.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Robert Williams
Funding Source or Research Program
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Presentation Session
Session A
Location
Plaza Classroom 188
Start Date
1-4-2016 4:45 PM
End Date
1-4-2016 5:00 PM
Fulfilling the Promise: The Reagan Administration and the Ratification of the Genocide Convention
Plaza Classroom 188
The failure of the U.S. to ratify many international human rights treaties has attracted considerable scholarly attention. Successful instances of ratification have attracted less attention but may be more important to understand. This research seeks to provide a detailed account of the Reagan administration's ratification of the Genocide Convention in November of 1988, almost forty years after it was signed. Based on extensive research in the papers of President Reagan, this project concludes that a shift in human rights policy in light of Cold War politics, effective executive-legislative negotiations, persistent interest group lobbying, and the sacrifice of treaty substance for the symbolic victory of ratification, all played a role in helping Reagan "fulfill the promise made by Harry Truman to all the peoples of the world." Based on this case, this research offers lessons applicable to other human rights treaties pending in the Senate.