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Home > Resources > Ethics & International Affairs Journal > Volume 13 (1999) > Special Section: The Humanitarian Identity Crisis |
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Principles, Politics, and Humanitarian Action [Abstract]
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December 4, 1999
The tragedies of the past decade have led to an identity crisis among
humanitarians. Respecting traditional principles of neutrality and impartiality
and operating procedures based on consent has created as many problems as it has
solved. A debate is raging between "classicists," who believe that humanitarian
action can be insulated from politics, and various "political humanitarians,"
who are attempting to use politics to improve relief and delivery in war zones.
This essay examines the pros and cons of impartial versus political
humanitarianism and differing approaches across a spectrum of actors, including
the classicists, led by the International Committee of the Red Cross, who
believe that humanitarian action can and should be completely insulated from
politics; the "minimalists," who "aim to do no harm" in delivering relief; the
"maximalists," who have a more ambitious agenda of employing humanitarian action
as part of a comprehensive strategy to transform conflict; and the
"solidarists," exemplified by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without
Borders), who choose sides and abandon neutrality and impartiality as well as
reject consent as a prerequisite for intervention. The essay argues that there
is no longer any need to ask whether politics and humanitarian action intersect.
The real question is how this intersection can be managed to ensure more
humanized politics and more effective humanitarian action.
To read or purchase the full text of this article, click here.
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The Carnegie Council's flagship publication, Ethics & International Affairs is an interdisciplinary resource for scholars, students, and policy analysts concerned with the moral dimensions of global issues. The journal covers global justice, civil society, democratization, international law, intervention, sanctions, and related topics.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
To subscribe to Ethics & International Affairs, or to purchase individual issues and articles, go to Wiley-Blackwell.
RESPONSES
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Affairs. To be considered for publication, responses should be no longer than one
thousand words, including endnotes (which
should be kept to a minimum). Responses
are not peer-reviewed, and are published at
the Editors' discretion. All responses are
subject to editing for length and style. In the
event of any questions or substantive editing,
the response will be returned to the author
for final approval prior to publication.
Responses are published online, alongside
the article they address.
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