Between Samaritans and States
The Political Ethics of Humanitarian INGOs
Jennifer C. Rubenstein
Reviews and Awards
2016 ISA Ethics Panel Book Award
2016 Winner of the APSA-IPSA Theodore J. Lowi First Book Award
"The literature on humanitarianism has now fully embraced the idea that humanitarianism is a set of walking contradictions and moral dilemmas, and Rubenstein's is the first book to use the insights and tools of political theory to interrogate these tensions. Not only does she present a fresh take on these issues, but she expertly identifies what counts as "fair" and "unfair" criticism and how to move beyond critique to solution. It is also rare for a political theorist to wander onto the terrain of international relations; unlike most who do, who tend to inhabit the realm of normative theory and thus excuse themselves from real world politics, Rubenstein makes an original contribution to our understanding of ethics as lived. Importantly, Rubenstein rightly sees humanitarian organizations as involved in governance and shows exactly what this means both for the governors and the governed." -Michael Barnett, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
"This deeply insightful book explores the ethical reasoning behind choices aid organisations make when faced with moral dilemmas in the course of their attempts to alleviate suffering in the world. It is an enormous achievement: a highly readable and thought-provoking appraisal of the international aid enterprise that is of great value to everyone involved in or studying contemporary humanitarian action." -Fiona Terry, author of Condemned to Repeat?
"This is a powerful and original contribution to the political theory of humanitarian aid. Jennifer Rubenstein has produced a pioneering analysis that, for the first time, gives a detailed normative account of the political ethics of NGOs in today's wars and disasters. This book will help humanitarians to understand themselves and give political theorists a more accurate insight into this growing dimension of international relations." -Dr Hugo Slim, University of Oxford
"Jennifer Rubenstein provides humanitarian actors with new, thought-provoking perspectives on their decisions and the underlying assumptions that drive them. The way she analyses the ethical predicaments that characterize NGOs' field work helps reframe the issues at play and think more rigorously about their expected outcomes and drawbacks. A must-read for all aid workers." -Rony Brauman, Director of studies at MSF Foundation, former President of MSF (France)
"In the growing literature on humanitarian aid by social and political scientists, this book brings one of the most systematic and thorough analysis of the moral predicaments faced by NGOs as they attempt to provide assistance to the victims of conflicts, disasters and epidemics. Showing that ethics and politics are intimately connected in these contexts, it proposes a lucid inquiry into the practices of benevolent international actors and takes the risk of normative stances to improve their interventions." -Didier Fassin, author of Humanitarian Reason: A Moral History of the Present (University of California Press)
