ABSTRACT
This chapter moves to the second layer of R2P circulation by exploring the importance of individuals operating in diplomatic and intergovernmental networks. While the chapter aims to emphasize the politics of diplomatic circles, it must take into account the political representatives of particular states, who have the mandate within a particular government, as well as a wider range of actors with significant political leverage over these national policy-makers. The argumentation proceeds as follows. First, the chapter presents the main platforms utilized by diplomatic representatives to circulate R2P among policy-makers, namely the Group of Friends of R2P at the UN, the Global Network of R2P Focal Points, Ministerial Meetings on the R2P and informal R2P working groups. Then the chapter introduces four country-specific case studies (Australia, Denmark, Slovenia and Qatar), which show the great diversity in sources of leverage used to diffuse R2P toward other states’ representatives but also to their own colleagues from the national executive branches. The chapter demonstrates the interconnectedness of state representatives and R2P advocates among scholars or practitioners discussed in the first chapter.
