Opinion Editorials, October 2009

The International Community:

Terminology and Performance, Part I

By Ali Al-Hail

ccun.org, October 30, 2009

Many observe that, the concept of "international community" is arguably, misleading. And, many more, go even further, to perceive it as an illusion.

From the outset, the term - in theory, seems resoundingly, resonating. For, it refers (or, supposed to) to all the states of the world or to a fair number of states of them, that could represent the rest.

However, more often than not, the notion of " international community", is widely, seen to refer solely, to the five member states of the

UN's Security Council. One presumes as do many that, the five member states have long, hijacked the term in favor to their 'national \ domestic' interests, in the same way they have hijacked the whole Security Council.

As a concept, the term is extremely, pleasant. But, it's applicants are unfortunately, not.

While, the premise of the term indicates to go beyond a sheer one single state's wellbeing, to the mutual interests of the whole

UN's member states, the " international community" of the five UN's Security Council's  member states outweigh the rest of the UN's member states as inferior.

Almost entirely, without a single exemption, the only state which is singled out from being perceived as an inferior state, is Israel. By the same token Israel, is controversially, a part of this pact.

Hence, they, for example who decide how to define a human rights violation, and how a repressive regime looks like or should look like.

In the view of that, causing the death of civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Palestinian lands, by NATO and Israel, is not a violation of human rights. And Israeli leaders who are evidently, responsible for killing

Palestinians do not - by the definition of the "international community" - represent a repressive regime.

Professor, Dr. Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communication, Twice Fulbright  Award Winner, Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Vice-President Of Qatar Fulbright Group, CSR Award Judge, Psychosomatics' lecturer, Management Trainer and Board Member of AUSACE, ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Associations.