The Vulnerable in International Society

What makes people vulnerable to harm? In this contribution to International Relations theory, the author shows how international systems of protection (such as the Geneva Conventions, or the Refugee Convention) can have a social impact on how vulnerability is distributed, leaving some people more exposed to risk. This view is demonstrated through four cases, tracing the consequences for vulnerability in the areas of political violence, climate change, humanmovement, and global health. Although these are often presented as simply technical or practical problems requiring management, the author makes clear that they are essentially moral in nature. This makes their solution even more complex.