The UN humanitarian response in Afghanistan spans fifteen years during which humanitarianism has waxed and waned. A retrospective look at this period provides insights on an interesting range of approaches and respect/disrespect for basic humanitarian principles. Afghanistan shows, for example, that definitions of what was “humanitarian” have expanded and contracted to suit particular political contexts. During the Taliban period the definition of humanitarian action was extremely wide and covered rehabilitation and even development activities; post–September 11 we see a dangerous level of contraction that compromises the application of its basic principles for the sake of pursuing nationbuilding activities in the service of political agendas.
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JAN 4, 2022 • Journal
Ethics & International Affairs Volume 35.4 (Winter 2021)
The issue features a book symposium organized by Michael Blake on Anna Stilz's "Territorial Sovereignty," with contributions from Adom Getachew; Christopher Heath Wellman; and Michael ...
OCT 29, 2021 • Journal
Ethics & International Affairs Volume 35.3 (Fall 2021)
The highlight of this issue is a book symposium organized by Peter Balint on Ned Dobos’s "Ethics, Security, and the War Machine," featuring contributions ...
AUG 27, 2021 • Journal
Ethics & International Affairs Volume 35.2 (Summer 2021)
The highlight of this issue is a roundtable organized by Adrian Gallagher on the responsibility to protect in a changing world order. The roundtable contains ...