Overview

Humanitarian crises are a central problem of modern history and contemporary international relations. Since the 1990s, the aid sector has ballooned in size and is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. In this book, historian Julia F. Irwin traces the events and trends that defined modern humanitarianism, from the eighteenth century up to the present day. It describes the origins of international humanitarian action, the development of major humanitarian organizations and movements, the evolution of international humanitarian law, and the expansion of the international humanitarian sector. It examines organized efforts to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity amid major conflicts, disasters, refugee crises, and other humanitarian emergencies. At the same time, Irwin shows how beliefs about race, gender, religion, and nationality have historically influenced humanitarian sentiments and actions. Attuned to the distinctions between wartime, postwar, and non-conflict situations, Irwin assesses criticisms waged against humanitarian actions and debates over the legitimacy of humanitarian interventions. This Very Short Introduction also teases out the complex relationship between humanitarianism, human rights, and international development. Finally, this book surveys diverse and competing humanitarian traditions throughout the world.

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Julia Irwin is the T. Harry Williams Professor of History at Louisiana State University. She earned her PhD in history from Yale University. Her research focuses on the histories of US foreign assistance and international humanitarianism. She is the author of Making the World Safe: The American Red Cross and a Nation's Humanitarian Awakening and Catastrophic Diplomacy: US Foreign Disaster Assistance in the American Century. She is also a founding coeditor of the book series InterConnections: The Global 20th Century and a founding coeditor of the Journal of Disaster Studies. Janelle Tedesco is a passionate, empathic, and excitable person by nature, so she loves getting to pour her soul into the narrative and characters of a well thought-out story! She has a BFA in MTH from Boston Conservatory. Janelle has performed on stages all over the world, most notably on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Ann-Margret. She has written award-winning films and won Best Actress twice. Since becoming a mother, Janelle feels she has become a better person and a better actor and storyteller. Her depth of emotion has increased tenfold, and you can hear and see that in her work. Professionally, she is an audiobook narrator, actress, singer, filmmaker, and stuntwoman.

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