ABSTRACT
Unlike at least some in the field, the author knew the precise moment he plunged into the strange world of genocide studies and genocide prevention. In fact, until that moment, he was hardly aware of the small but growing army of dedicated characters who devote their lives to these efforts. Finally, on the central issue of prevention, the questions are pretty obvious. Will all the new structures put into place, such as in the office of the UN Secretary-General, and all the work on early warning signs, have any real impact, as many have long believed? The role of the Permanent Five members of the Security Council remains decisive, and as ever, on every occasion, there seems a perfectly compelling reason why one or more of them refuses to permit intervention to prevent or end a man-made disaster. The author would be a contented old man if one fine day, while he is still around, he will be proved wrong.
