Northern Africa, Arabian Springs, oil and arrogance : new uses for R2P in Africa

Libya is different from Tunisia and Egypt and social disturbances received immediate interventionist treatment from France, the UK and the USA. This contribution investigates the reasons for this and the foreseeable outcomes as well as implications for other (non-pliant) African and Arab states. The author argues that what we see now is not conspiracy. It is about the forceful re-assertion of long-standing European/USA mentalities that stem from the past and under current economic conditions and the implosion of the USA and Western economies will lead to a more forceful and militarist projection of foreign policy by the USA and its loyal European juniors against others.