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Humanitarianism and Suffering: The Mobilization of Empathy

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Humanitarianism and Suffering: The Mobilization of Empathy
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Richard Ashby Wilson
Edited by Richard D. Brown
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:330
Dimensions(mm): Height 229,Width 152
Category/GenreSocial and political philosophy
ISBN/Barcode 9780521298384
ClassificationsDewey:341.67
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 26 May 2011
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Humanitarian sentiments have motivated a variety of manifestations of pity, from nineteenth-century movements to end slavery to the creation of modern international humanitarian law. While humanitarianism is clearly political, this text addresses the ways in which it is also an ethos embedded in civil society, one that drives secular and religious social and cultural movements, not just legal and political institutions. As an ethos, humanitarianism has a strong narrative and representational dimension that can generate humanitarian constituencies for particular causes. Essays in the volume analyze the character, form, and voice of private or public narratives themselves and explain how and why some narratives of suffering energize political movements of solidarity, whereas others do not. Humanitarianism and Suffering explores when, how, and why humanitarian movements become widespread popular movements. It shows how popular sentiments move political and social elites to action and, conversely, how national elites appropriate humanitarian ideals for more instrumental ends.

Reviews

'... a very timely volume that should appeal to a wide range of anthropologists.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute