A history of humanitarianism, 1755-1989 : in the name of others

The volume'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. It explains how relief has entered both national and supranational institutions' agendas, and the programmes of non-governmental organizations, shaping relations between the global North and global South. It closely scrutinises the actions of major aid organizations - including the Red Cross, Save the Children, various UN agencies, Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders - hightlighting how the meaning of international humanitarianism has changed over time.