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Empire Of Humanity: A History Of Humanitarianism

Empire of Humanity explores humanitarianism's remarkable growth from its humble origins in the early nineteenth century to its current prominence in global life. In contrast to most contemporary accounts of humanitarianism that concentrate on the last two decades, Michael Barnett ties the past to the present, connecting the antislavery and missionary movements of the nineteenth century to today's peacebuilding missions, the Cold War interventions in places like Biafra and Cambodia to post–Cold War humanitarian operations in regions such as the Great Lakes of Africa and the Balkans; and the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863 to the emergence of the major international humanitarian organizations of the twentieth century. Based on extensive archival work, close encounters with many of today's leading international agencies, and interviews with dozens of aid workers in the field and at headquarters, Empire of Humanity provides a history that is both global and intimate.Avoiding both romanticism and cynicism, Empire of Humanity explores humanitarianism's enduring themes, trends, and, most strikingly, ethical ambiguities. Humanitarianism hopes to change the world, but the world has left its mark on humanitarianism. Humanitarianism has undergone three distinct global ages―imperial, postcolonial, and liberal―each of which has shaped what humanitarianism can do and what it is. The world has produced not one humanitarianism, but instead varieties of humanitarianism. Furthermore, Barnett observes that the world of humanitarianism is divided between an emergency camp that wants to save lives and nothing else and an alchemist camp that wants to remove the causes of suffering. These camps offer different visions of what are the purpose and principles of humanitarianism, and, accordingly respond differently to the same global challenges and humanitarianism emergencies. Humanitarianism has developed a metropolis of global institutions of care, amounting to a global governance of humanity. This humanitarian governance, Barnett observes, is an empire of humanity: it exercises power over the very individuals it hopes to emancipate.Although many use humanitarianism as a symbol of moral progress, Barnett provocatively argues that humanitarianism has undergone its most impressive gains after moments of radical inhumanity, when the "international community" believes that it must atone for its sins and reduce the breach between what we do and who we think we are. Humanitarianism is not only about the needs of its beneficiaries; it also is about the needs of the compassionate.

Paperback: 312 pages

Publisher: Cornell University Press; 1 edition (April 12, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0801478790

ISBN-13: 978-0801478796

Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.7 x 9.3 inches

Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #247,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #30 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Public Affairs & Policy > Non-Governmental Organizations #392 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political History #436 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > International Relations

Excellent research done by Barnet, the Empire of Humanity represents a thorough analysis of historical factors in a professional sequence that changed the humanitarianism into a business structure over the years. Barnett has explained with proofs that how the contemporary humanitarianism deviated from its Principles of neutrality and independence and how it became a tool for political gains by the doner states. This is a must read book especially by those working in humanitarian sector.

Excellent overview of the history of humanitarianism, framed in critical perspective.

The book is okay, though a bit schematic. The author tries to formulate abstracts like eras (one coming after the other) and the "forces" in interplay producing each "era". Actually, it takes maybe too much time talking about abstracts and too litle talking about regular plain facts and events and regulations and specific actions.

Pretty terrible book. More of a please pat me on the back while I ignore the obvious paternalist influences and point out the weak motives. States nearly every not so original conclusion without evidence. Refers to wars as a new type without consulting historical records. Needlessly uses large obscure words when simple well know verbaige would be appropriate, seemingly for his own amusement.

Had to read this for a grad class, super weak

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