The debate on the nature of war and conflict and the ways in which the international aid or "humanitarian" community responds to them has taken on heightened significance in the past few years, as this community has grappled with the emergence of new norms both for the conduct of warfare and for intervention on humanitarian grounds. Should NGOs, the authors ask, take the side of "justice" in so-called just wars? Or should they also strive to help those on the "wrong" side of conflict when they are in need? In the Shadow of "Just Wars" is a welcome contribution to the growing field of humanitarian studies. Its analyses consider not only the practical, technical response to crises but also the moral, ethical, and political dilemmas caused by these conflicts and the ways in which they challenge internationally held notions of peace and security.
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