Social Science Research Council

What is the "field" of humanitarianism?

Perhaps the heart of the transformation of humanitarian action is the debate over the boundaries of the field. With a growing number of organizations increasingly presenting themselves as humanitarian, with the blurring of relief, human rights, development, and even democracy promotion, with the very attempt to establish standards of practice and levels of professionalism, the boundaries of the field are a matter of debate. It is appropriate, therefore, that this first seminar explore: the actors, events, and processes that are causing a reassessment of the field; the environmental features—including legal developments, changes in value systems, and international events—that have shaped the content and definition of the field; and the different positions taken by different actors in this debate.

October 2004 Presenters

Craig Calhoun, President, Social Science Research Council
Link to paper: "Fear, Intervention, and the Limits of Cosmopolitan Order"

Iain Levine, Program Director, Human Rights Watch
Link to paper: "A Clouded Perspective: What is the Field of Humanitarianism?"