Humanitarian Myths and Hubris

A Critical Self-Portrait from Medecins Sans Frontieres
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-89324-2
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 252 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 453 g

Reihe: Routledge Humanitarian Studies

This collective work offers a critical analysis of contemporary humanitarian action, through the prism of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Initially created to provide healthcare to the most vulnerable populations in crisis-stricken countries, MSF has grown from just a few dozen members in 1971 to a movement of over 67,000 people with an annual budget of over 2 billion euros. But in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, many of the founding principles and myths surrounding its creation are questioned or undermined. The post-Covid era has been marked by a reinforcement or acceleration of pre-existing trends that continue to challenge the work of humanitarian organisations: restrictive, or indeed hostile, state policies; the presence of non-state actors in counter-terrorism contexts; questionable adherence to international humanitarian law. MSF must also address several key issues, such as combating discrimination, defining its position with regard to protest movements in countries of intervention, confronting challenges related to climate change and global health security, and safeguarding patients’ personal data.

Drawing on the viewpoints of practitioners, analysts, and academics, this book will be an essential read for anyone engaged in or curious about humanitarian action.

Zielgruppe

Academic, Postgraduate, Professional Practice & Development, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mavor, Amy

McLean, Duncan

Duroch, Françoise

Duroch, Francoise

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Regierungspolitik Sozialpolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Gesundheitssoziologie, Medizinsoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Arbeit/Sozialpädagogik Soziale Dienste, Soziale Organisationen
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizinische Fachgebiete AINS Notfallmedizin & Unfallmedizin (inkl. Notdienste)
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Internationale Organisationen und Institutionen
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Invalidität, Krankheit und Abhängigkeit: Soziale Aspekte
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Arbeit/Sozialpädagogik Community Care, Bildung, Freizeit, Freiwilligenarbeit
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Genozid und ethnische Säuberung
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Menschenrechte, Bürgerrechte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Gewalt Völkermord, Ethnische Säuberung, Kriegsverbrechen
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Geopolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Nichtregierungsorganisation (NGOs)
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Friedens- und Konfliktforschung
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Soziale Folgen von Katastrophen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction: Humanitarianism in Retreat?; PART I – ELEMENTS OF CHANGE AND CONTINUITY 1 ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Victims? A Matter of Choice; Zoom-in: Healthcare without Borders: Navigating Securitisation and Exclusion of Migrants; 2 The Evolution of How MSF Treats People; 3 Hostility to Aid Actors: Normalising Transgression?; Zoom-in: Security Management with Locally Hired Staff: A Collaboration with Gaps?; PART II – NAVIGATING EXPECTATIONS 4 From Technique to Technicity: Evolving Aims in MSF’s Medical Practice; 5 Global Health Security in Humanitarian Medicine: What Is the Greater Good?; Zoom-in: The IFRC’s Community-driven Approach in DRC’s Ebola Outbreak; 6 Caught in the Crossfire? International NGOs and Contemporary Forms of Protest and Resistance; Zoom-in: Protecting Humanitarian Action in an Age of Disinformation; 7 Speaking Out With, Not For: Rethinking Humanitarian Narratives; PART III – CHALLENGING ADAPTATIONS 8 Liberal vs. Critical: Diverging Paths in Humanitarian Aid and Global Health; Zoom-in: Reflecting on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in MSF; 9 Absorbed into the War Machine: What Is Independence When Everything Is Connected?; 10 Without Borders, Within Boundaries: Learning How to Deliver Aid in Light of the Climate Emergency; Epilogue: Negotiating Spaces, Defending Convictions

Über Autor(innen)

Duncan McLean is currently a Senior Researcher with MSF’s Research Unit on Humanitarian Stakes and Practices (UREPH), based in Geneva. Holding a PhD in history, he has published widely on the humanitarian sector, regularly lectures at universities throughout Europe, and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Humanitarian Affairs.

Françoise Duroch began working in the humanitarian field in the early 1990s with Handicap International, then with MSF. She has spent 15 years researching gender-based violence and holds a PhD in social sciences. She is a lecturer at several universities and currently coordinates the MSF Switzerland research unit in Geneva.

Amy Mavor holds master’s degrees in languages from the University of Edinburgh and translation from Université Rennes 2, and has worked since 2018 as Publishing and Editing Officer at MSF Switzerland’s research unit.