Development and Humanitarianism : Practical Issues

Humanitarian intervention invariably rubs shoulders with politics, albeit awkwardly and sometimes even with tragic results. Tensions between them take many forms, ranging from different assessments of the extent or even the existence of a crisis to claims that humanitarian assistance is not saving innocent lives but sustaining politico-military forces, or to the conclusion that the constraints upon them compel aid agencies to withdraw from the area of operation completely - whether to ensure the safety of their own staff or because they believe that their integrity is unacceptably compromised by staying.

Development and Humanitarianism addresses these and other dilemmas that aid agencies face in interpreting the principles of humanitarianism in contexts where they risk being manipulated by political agendas. The contributors have extensive experience as frontline aid workers, agency policy makers, academics and researchers, and professional consultants around the world. Like every book in the Development in Practice Readers series, Development and Humanitarianism draws on the contents of the acclaimed international journal, Development in Practice and includes an annotated resource list of recent publications, relevant journals, organizations and websites presenting a cutting-edge guide to thinking and action.

Other Contributors: Gretchen Alther, Andrew Bonwick, Julia Buckmaster, Udan Fernando, Dorothea Hilhorst, Jonathan Makuwira, Vanessa Pupavac, Volker Schimmel, Astri Suhrke, Frank James Tester, Martha Thompson and Suzanne Williams.

Tony Vaux was for over 20 years one of Oxfam's leading emergency managers. He is the founding director of Humanitarian Initiatives, which promotes exchange on conflict-related issues among practitioners. He has been a consultant to DFID, UNDP, and Swiss Development Cooperation; and in 2005 led a UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) team evaluating post-Tsunami assistance. Previously he was responsible for Oxfam GB’s programmes in West India (1976-1980) and East India and Bhutan (1982-1984), coordinated its emergency response department (1984-1994), and managed its work in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union (1994-1998).

Deborah Eade became editor of the international journal Development in Practice in 1991 and has published extensively on international development and humanitarian issues. She was an independent consultant based in Mexico before becoming Oxfam GB’s Deputy Regional Representative for Mexico and Central America (1984-1991).