Shaping the humanitarian world

201 Pages·2009·1.035 MB·English

by  Maxwell, Daniel G.;Walker, Peter

Shaping the Humanitarian World
Providing a critical introduction to the notion of humanitarianism in
global politics, tracing the concept from its origins to the twenty-first
century,thisbookexamineshowthesocalledinternationalcommunity
works in response to humanitarian crises and the systems that bind
and divide them.
By tracing the historyon international humanitarian action from its
early roots through the birth of the Red Cross to the beginning of the
UN, Peter Walker and Daniel Maxwell examine the challenges huma-
nitarian agencies face, from working alongside armies and terrorists to
witnessing genocide. They argue that humanitarianism has a vital
future, but only if those practicing it choose to make it so. Topics
covered include:
(cid:1) the rise in humanitarian action as a political tool
(cid:1) the growing call for accountability of agencies
(cid:1) the switch of NGOs from bit players to major trans-national actors
(cid:1) the conflict between political action and humanitarian action when
it comes to addressing causes aswell as symptoms of crisis.
This book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in inter-
national human rights law, disaster management and international
relations.
Peter Walker is Director at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts
University. Dr Walker founded the World Disasters Report and was
one of the founders of the Sphere humanitarian standards.
Daniel Maxwell is Associate Professor at the Friedman School of
Nutrition Science and Policy, and a Research Director at Feinstein
International Center at Tufts University.
Routledge Global Institutions
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Thepolitics andpractice ofrefugee ShapingtheHumanitarianWorld
protectionintothetwenty-firstcentury (2009)
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Shaping the Humanitarian
World
Peter Walker and
Daniel Maxwell
Firstpublished2009
byRoutledge
2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,Oxon,OX144RN
SimultaneouslypublishedintheUSAandCanada
byRoutledge
270MadisonAvenue,NewYork,NY10016
RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninforma
business
©2009PeterWalkerandDanielMaxwell
TypesetinTimesNewRomanby
Taylor&FrancisBooks
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedor
reproducedorutilisedinanyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,
orothermeans,nowknownorhereafterinvented,including
photocopyingandrecording,orinanyinformationstorageor
retrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublishers.
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritish
Library
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Walker,Peter,1955-
Shapingthehumanitarianworld/PeterWalkerandDanielG.
Maxwell.
p.cm.–(Globalinstitutionsseries)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
1.Humanitarianintervention.2.Humanitarianassistance.I.
Maxwell,DanielG.II.Title.
JZ6369.W352008
341.5'84–dc22
2008021884
ISBN978-0-415-77370-6(hbk)
ISBN978-0-415-77371-3(pbk)
ISBN978-0-203-61453-2(ebk)
Contents
List of illustrations x
Foreword xi
Acknowledgements xv
Acronym and weblink guide xvi
Introduction 1
1 Origins of the international humanitarian system 13
2 Mercy and manipulation in the Cold War 46
3 The globalization of humanitarianism: from the end of
the Cold War to the Global Waron Terror 60
4 States as responders and donors 79
5 International organizations 97
6 NGOs and private action 117
7 A brave new world, abetter future? 136
Notes 154
Select bibliography 168
Index 169