The Humanitarian Fix: Navigating Civilian Protection in Contemporary Wars

This book explores how humanitarians balance the laws and principles of civilian protection with the realities of contemporary warzones,where non-state armed actors assert cultural,political, and religious traditions that are often at odds with official frameworks. It argues that humanitarian protection is driven by the relationships between the complex mix of actors involved in contemporary wars and that humanitarian practitioners act as unofficial brokers to translate the official frameworks to align with the often-divergent agendas of non-state armed actors.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 166 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate dynamics between humanitarian laws and principles and the realities of contemporary war zones, where non-state armed actors assert cultural, political, and religious traditions that often clash with official frameworks. It argues that the ground-level implementation of humanitarian protection is not solely driven by traditional official frameworks but rather by the complex interplay of various actors involved in modern conflicts. These actors, including state and non-state actors, international organizations, local communities, and individuals, form interconnected relationships that shape the humanitarian response.

The frameworks, in turn, serve as a unifying narrative that preserves these relationships. As humanitarian practitioners navigate this complex space, they play the role of unofficial brokers, translating official frameworks to align with the often-divergent agendas of non-state armed actors. By doing so, they provide an unofficial humanitarian fix for the challenges inherent in applying the official frameworks in contemporary wars.

Drawing on rich ethnographic observations from the authors time in northern Iraq, complemented by interviews with a diverse range of fieldworkers, humanitarian policy makers, and lawyers, this book offers a compelling exploration of the contradictions at the heart of humanitarian practice. It will be of interest to researchers and students in humanitarian and development studies, as well as practitioners and policy makers who are grappling with the complexities outlined in this book.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367621971