From Solferino to Sarajevo

Behind an apparent consensus on humanitarianism among politicians, soldiers, diplomats, intellectuals, and artists, and while public aid has become an important element of the Western response to contemporary tragedies, numerous voices are questioning the role of humanitarian aid in conflict situations. This article provides a historical perspective of humanitarianism, from the emergence of basic concepts in the eighteenth century to modern times. The post-World War II era witnessed intellectual critiques of humanitarian action, and, in the 1980s humanitarian aid became, consciously or not, an important instrument of the antitotalitarian struggle. The end of Soviet communism and the evolution of international relations have profoundly changed the work of humanitarian organizations. Today, the gap is immense between proclaimed humanitarian principles and values, and the actions undertaken to defend them. This article examines how humanitarian action has attempted to keep humanitarian aid from contributing to aggravation of the victim's fate rather than to their relief.