Description: Nearly all of those who want to make the world a better place are engaged in paternalism. This book asks how power is intertwined with practices of global compassion. It argues that the concept of paternalism illuminates how care and control are involved in the everyday practices of humanitarianism, human rights, development and other projects designed to improve the lives of others. The authors explore whether and how the paternalism of the nineteenth century differs from the paternalism of today, and offer a provocative look at the power in global ethics, raising the question of whether, when, and how paternalism can be justified.
Brief description: Michael N. Barnett is University Professor of International Affairs and Political Science at George Washington University. His research interests include the Middle East, humanitarian action, global governance, global ethics, and the United Nations. His most recent book is The Star and the Stripes: A History of the Foreign Policies of American Jews (2016).
Review Quotes: 'Humanitarians use their resources and expertise to try to do what they see as good in the world, but sometimes bulldoze over the preferences and customs of the people they want to help. Michael N. Barnett's crew of knowledgeable contributors illuminates their penetrating ethical analysis with real dilemmas that aid professionals face in Congo, Darfur, Gaza and other zones of conflict or abuse. Few books on any topic are as effective in breathing life into serious normative analysis through subtly contextualized case studies.' Jack Snyder, Columbia University