Description:
From the 19th-century abolitionist movement to today's NGOs, a critical account of humanitarianism in world politics.
Brief description: Michael Barnett is University Professor of International Affairs and Political Science at The George Washington University. He is author of Eyewitness to a Genocide and coeditor of Humanitarianism in Question, both from Cornell.
Review Quotes:
This is a history of humanitarianism--its ideas, practices, problems, and institutions. Whereas most other accounts of humanitarianism focus on recent initiatives, Barnett begins his historical account with the antislavery and missionary movements of the 19th century. He argues that humanitarianism has gone through three distinct stages: the imperial form (1800-1945), the neohumanitarian form (1945-89), and the liberal form (1989-present), with most institutional development occurring in the post-WW II era.... A strength of this study is that it critiques humanitarian initiatives in light of the historical conditions in which such activities take place. This nuanced, compelling book is strongly recommended. Summing Up: Highly recommended for all readership levels.
-- "Choice"