The book ambitiously weaves together history and politics to explain all of the major situations where mass atrocities have occurred, or been prevented, over the 15 years since R2P was adopted at the 2005 UN World Summit.

Simon Adams, PhD, is Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, a human rights organization that provides policy advice and carries out advocacy with the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council regarding crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. Dr. Adams has worked extensively with civil society organizations in South Africa, East Timor, Rwanda and elsewhere. He is the author of four books and regularly appears in the international media on matters related to the United Nations, human rights and conflict in the world today.

Introduction: It wasn't supposed to be this way 1 Why humans commit atrocities and how societies can change 2 Regime change in Libya 3 Moments on the margins of Syria's civil war 4 Terrorism, Genocide and the Islamic State 5 Climate change and mass atrocities 6 The fate of the Rohingya and the future of human rights 7 Conclusion: The mass graves that were not dug Epilogue: Benjamin Ferencz says