Overview

Always the first to respond to a crisis, whether war, famine, or natural disaster, Medecins Sans Frontieres and its sister organization, Medecins du Monde, combine rapid intervention with invaluable critical assessment, setting a precedent for effective humanitarian action that has yet to be surpassed. However, their techniques were not developed in a vacuum. A comparative history of humanitarianism, especially among groups operating within the United States, Great Britain, and Switzerland, reveals existing forms of action that Medecins Sans Frontieres, Medecins du Monde, and others have perfected over time and through rigorous trials. The contributors to this volume develop just such a history, focusing on the Red Cross's relief practices and their integration with Amnesty International's public opinion mobilization efforts, which today form the basis of the world's leading humanitarian programs. Contributors also compare competing French and Anglo-Saxon models of intervention and assess the future of humanitarianism in the twenty-first century.

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9780231702621

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Many Reasons to Intervene is a unique book on humanitarian aid in emergency settings. For the first time, with contributions by respected academics and practitioners, the differences and similarities between the French and Anglo-Saxon approaches to the delivery of humanitarian aid are analyzed from a variety of perspectives. The description of the historical foundations of international assistance both in France and the United Kingdom shed new light on the political role of international NGOs. This important book will be of interest to all actors in the field of humanitarian aid, including policy makers, donors, implementers, and academics. The idea of contrasting French and British approaches to humanitarian action while simultaneously questioning the adequacy of a simple dichotomy between the two is worthwhile, and the essays in this volume are stimulating and informative. Key issues about the nature of humanitarianism, the relationship between humanitarianism and development, and questions of independence and neutrality are discussed in novel ways, and the authors' differing assumptions force readers to think about their own positions.

<p> Many Reasons to Intervene is a unique book on humanitarian aid in emergency settings. For the first time, with contributions by respected academics and practitioners, the differences and similarities between the French and Anglo-Saxon approaches to the delivery of humanitarian aid are analyzed from a variety of perspectives. The description of the historical foundations of international assistance both in France and the United Kingdom shed new light on the political role of international NGOs. This important book will be of interest to all actors in the field of humanitarian aid, including policy makers, donors, implementers, and academics.

Author Information

Karl Blanchet is a researcher at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.Boris Martin is editor of the French journal Humanitaire, published by Medecins du Monde-France. He is also an independent publisher and author.

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