The end of the 20th century marked the end of the era of mass human atrocities and a new understanding of how conflict works. With the end of World War II and the consolidation of state borders, conflicts were no longer limited to border conflicts. Increasingly, conflicts broke out within state borders, causing greater numbers of civilian casualties and often escalating into violent wars. From Cambodia to Rwanda, from Argentina to Bosnia, the second half of the 20th century was marked by genocide and the motto “never again” continued to be repeated. The 21st century ushered in a new ideology aimed at preventing and ending mass atrocities. Realizing that the doctrine of humanitarian intervention was in dire need of change, the United Nations General Assembly convened. Under the principles of the Responsibility to Protect established at the 2005 United Nations World Summit, recent events over the past year in Syria warrant concerted international intervention. In this article, I will examine the role of the responsibility to protect and intervention in Syria. REVIEWING SYRIA: SYRIA'S RISE TO ITS PRESENT STATES Syria's rise to authoritarian rule began in November 1970 after Hafiz al-Asad ousted the current president in a military coup. He quickly moved to consolidate his governmental position and power. The Ba'ath-dominated cabinet appointed a 173-member legislature, of which more than half (87 members) of the seats were occupied by the Ba'ath. Shortly after, a referendum was held to confer the post of president on Hafiz al-Asad for a seven-year term. He did much to retain his power and limit opposition. An i...... middle of paper ......l Jazeera obtains secret files on Syria http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/03/20123191073517388.html 10. Result of the World Summit Document http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/world%20summit%20outcome%20doc%202005(1).pdf 11. Implementing the responsibility to protect: Report of the Secretary-General http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/implementing% 20the%20rtop .pdf 12. Amnesty International Annual Report 2011 – Syria http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/syria/report-2011 13. Evans, Gareth. The responsibility to protect. 200814. UPDATE 4-Syria puts pressure on all sides at UN to end violence http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/05/syria-un-idUSL2E8F52GV20120405 15. Syrian assault undermines hopes for ceasefire http://www. .time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2111336,00.html 16. Syria: the people are waking uphttp://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/2012/03/20123111598441202.html