International Organizations and Civilian Protection: Power, Ideas and Humanitarian Aid in Conflict Zones (Library of International Relations) [Hardcover]

Despite the proliferation of international humanitarian and human rights laws since the end of the Cold War, there has been an erosion of the practical immunity of civilians caught up in armed conflicts. Here, Sreeram Chaulia explores the attempts of international humanitarian organizations to relieve the plight of these civilians, offering a unique insight into the motivations and effects of these organizations at the grass-roots level in conflict zones. By using a theoretical framework to examine the realities of humanitarian assistance, this analysis offers invaluable conclusions for those involved in the study of Politics and International Relations, as well as those concerned with practicalities of conflict resolution and peacekeeping. '[This is] a terrific contribution to a growing literature rethinking the purpose and potential of international humanitarian work. Based on fascinating field studies from Sri Lanka and the Philippines, Sreeram Chaulia argues that the range of theoretical explanations for state and non-state humanitarian efforts to protect civilians in armed conflict are not up to the task. Our humanitarianism must, he argues, be open to more radical experimentation and new grass roots alliances, while rooting itself in a deeper understanding of the structures of social and political life in a global economy. Great stuff.' - Professor David Kennedy, Institute for Global Law and Policy, Harvard Law School, Harvard University; '[This book] is an important contribution to our understanding of humanitarianism in the context of conflict and war. [It] accomplishes the difficult task of making an important political critique of humanitarian action while at the same time contributing to recent theoretical debates within International Relations theory...The book will be of interest to scholars and students in international relations and development studies, as well as to practitioners in humanitarian organizations.' - Dr Peter Nyers, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, McMaster University