history of humanitarianism, 17551989

The book traces the history of international aid from the anti-slavery movement to the end of the cold war. The reconstruction of humanitarianism’s long pattern unfolds around some crucial moments and events: the colonial expansion of European countries, the two world wars and their aftermaths, the emergence of a new postcolonial order. This book traces the history of international humanitarianism from the anti-slavery movement to the end of the Cold War. Salvatici’s reconstruction of humanitarianism’s long history unfolds around some crucial moments and events: the colonial expansion of European countries, the two World Wars and their aftermaths, and the emergence of a new postcolonial order, for example. It explains how relief has entered both national and supranational institutions' agendas, and the programs of non-governmental organisations, shaping relations between the Global North and Global South. And it closely scrutinises the actions of major aid organisations including the Red Cross, Save the Children, various UN agencies, Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders, to highlight how the meaning of international humanitarianism has changed over time.Written in a lively and engaging style, this volume strikes an excellent balance between a chronological account of events, close examination of the sources and in-depth analysis. It will be essential reading for scholars, students and practitioners of humanitarianism, but non-specialist readers will also find much of interest and relevance to current events. The book traces the history of international humanitarianism from the anti-slavery movement to the end of the cold war. It is based on an extensive survey of the international literature and is retold in an original narrative that relies on a close examination of the sources. The reconstruction of humanitarianism’s long history unfolds around some crucial moments and events: the colonial expansion of European countries, the two world wars and their aftermaths, the emergence of a new postcolonial order. In terms of its contents, narrative style, interpretative approach the book is aimed at a large and diverse public including: scholars who are studying and teaching humanitarianism; students who need to learn about humanitarianism as part of their training or research; operators and volunteers who are engaged in the field; non-specialist readers who are interested in the topic because of its relevance to current events.