Empire of Humanity

Michael Barnett

Description

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.

Sujets

• Charities
• Histoire
• Charitable organization
• International relations
• Human rights

Informations

• Publié par: Cornell University Press
• Date de parution: 03 mars 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780801460616
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

E M P I R E O F H U M A N I T Y

EMPIRE OF HUM A NIT Y

A History of Humanitarianism

h

M C H A E L B A R N E T I T

C OR N E L L U N I V E R SI T Y PR E S S / I T H AC A A N D LON DON

Copyright © 2011 by Cornell University

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850.

First published 2011 by Cornell University Press First printing, Cornell Paperbacks, 2013

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Barnett, Michael N., 1960– Empire of humanity : a history of humanitarianism / Michael Barnett. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 9780801447136 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 9780801478796 (paper : alk. paper) 1. Humanitarian intervention—History. 2. Humanitarian assistance— History. 3. Humanitarianism—History. I. Title. JZ6369.B348 2011 361.2'6—dc22 2010042042

Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetablebased, lowVOC inks and acidfree papers that are recycled, totally chlorinefree, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu.

Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Paperback printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Victoria

Acknowledgments

Contents

Introduction: The Crooked Timber of Humanitarianism

1. CoDependence: Humanitarianism and the World

PART I The Age of Imperial Humanitarianism

2. The Humanitarian Big Bang

3. Saving Slaves, Sinners, Savages, and Societies

4. Saving Soldiers and Civilians during War

PART II The Age of NeoHumanitarianism

5. The New International

6. NeoHumanitarianism

7. Humanitarianism during Wartime

ix

1

19

49

57

76

97

107

132

v i i i / C ON T E N T S

PART III The Age of Liberal Humanitarianism

 8. It’s a Humanitarian’s World

 9. Armed for Humanity

10. Politics and AntiPolitics, or the New Paternalism

Conclusion: Empire of Humanity

Notes References Index

161

171

195

220

241

265

287

Acknowledgments

HIS BOOK is a lot like humanitarianism in two critical respects: It kind T ness, sometimes from strangers, but in many cases from friends. I can began with modest ambitions and then expanded beyond belief— perhaps too much for its own good. And it depended on acts of not thank everyone who helped me over the years, but there are quite a few who deserve recognition. I have benefited greatly from participating in various events and meet ings over the years. In 2003–2004, with the support of Craig Calhoun and the Social Science Research Council, I helped to convene a seminar series on humanitarianism; in addition to influencing my views, it also led to Humanitarianism in Question,which I edited with Tom Weiss. A sincere thank you, once again, to the participants in that series and the contribu tors to the volume. In 2005–2006, Raymond Duvall and I organized a Mellonsponsored Sawyer Seminar series on “Humanitarianism and World Order,” which provided the opportunity for an interdisciplinary group of graduate students and faculty at the University of Minnesota to engage a series of controversies and to invite several truly remarkable scholars and practitioners to reflect on their work. In addition to those who partici pated in the seminar series, I owe much to my collaborator, Bud Duvall. Around this time I also began delving into the relationship between reli gion and humanitarianism, which might not have happened (and certainly not in the same way) had it not been for a generous grant from the Luce Foundation. The activities surrounding this grant allowed me to interact