The Humanitarian Impulse

Abstract

Humanitarian values have become central to foreign and military policies since the outset of the 1990s. Humanitarians often lament that national interests are obstacles to realizing their objectives. In truth, calculations about vital interests by governmental decision-makers explain intervention, which is unlikely to succeed unless there is a demonstrated willingness to take casualties and stay the course. This chapter focuses on the trends that have emerged since the 1990s that may circumscribe the chances for a more consistent respect for humanitarian values over the next ten years.