Empire of humanity : a history of humanitarianism /

As the book's subtitle indicates, this is a history of humanitarianism--its ideas, practices, problems, and institutions. Whereas most other accounts of humanitarianism focus on recent initiatives, Barnett (George Washington Univ.) begins his historical account with the antislavery and missionary movements of the 19th century. He argues that humanitarianism has gone through three distinct stages: the imperial form (l800-1945), the neohumanitarian form (1945-89), and the liberal form (l989-present), with most institutional development occurring in the post-WW II era. The establishment of numerous public and private institutions has resulted in a system of humanitarian governance, or what Barnett terms "an empire of humanity" that rules the very people that are being emancipated. Finally, there is no single expression of humanitarianism but a variety of models. Two of the principal expressions of global compassion are the "emergency" or short-term humanitarianism that seeks to save lives and the "alchemical" or long-term humanitarianism that aims to alleviate suffering. Each of these has different goals and processes. A strength of this study is that it critiques humanitarian initiatives in light of the historical conditions in which such activities take place. This nuanced, compelling book is strongly recommended. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. M. Amstutz Wheaton College

Barnett (international affairs & political science, George Washington Univ.; Eyewitness to a Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda) divides his study of humanitarianism into three stages across 200 years: pre-World War II, World War II through the Cold War, and post-Cold War. First, abolitionist groups and missionaries dominated; after World War II came decolonization and developmental economics; and the third stage reveals the professionalization of agencies and their growing role as a part of global governance. Barnett identifies two types of humanitarian agencies: emergency (immediate relief of suffering) and alchemical (seeking to cure the underlying cause of suffering). He points to Bosnia and Rwanda to highlight the moral dilemma agencies face: they need the cooperation of local governments, even when those governments have caused the emergency or when aid may be diverted to the perpetrators. Barnett is critical of relief agencies, the UN in particular, for failure to address this dilemma appropriately. This is the first work to make such a strong connection between agency history and today's circumstances. VERDICT Although all contributors to overseas relief agencies should consider these issues, Barnett's treatment is scholarly, making this most suitable for his fellow academics and for humanitarian agency professionals.-Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New York (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.