The Mediterranean and human rights [editorial]

Abstract

Proliferating regional conflicts and emergency situations affecting millions of human beings call for a radical reconsideration not only of economic policies based on solidarity, but also of military politics which have guaranteed the security of the world after the Cold War in the context of the two great expansions of political thought: the communist one and the western. However, this new international situation requires also a re-assessment of the principles and norms of international law, which in these last few centuries have given to the States the nearly exclusive role of actors in all matters concerning the international community. Indeed, today the national State faces a dilemma. It seems to be too "small" and consequently inadequate, to cope with new and old situations of emergency afflicting humanity, and which cannot be attributed exclusively to one particular region of the world. One need only refer to environmental problems and to their impact on the life of whole populations. [excerpt]