The Humanitarians: The International Committee of the Red Cross

by David P. Forsythe

• ISBN13: 9780521612814
• ISBN10: 0521612810
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-05
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) coordinates the world's largest private relief system for conflict situations. Its staff operates throughout the world, and in recent years the ICRC has mounted large operations in the Balkans and Somalia. Yet despite its very important role its internal workings are mysterious and often secretive. This book examines the ICRC from its origins in the mid-nineteenth century up to the present day, and provides a comprehensive overview of a unique private organisation, whose governing body remains all-Swiss, but which is recognized in international law as if it were an inter-governmental organization. David Forsythe focuses on the policy making and field work of the ICRC, while not ignoring international humanitarian law. He explores how it exercises its independence, impartiality, and neutrality to try to protect prisoners in Iraq, displaced and starving civilians in Somalia, and families separated by conflict in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. David Forsythe received the Distinguished Scholar Award for 2007 from the Human Rights Section of the American Political Science Association.

Author Biography

David P. Forsythe is Charles I. Mach Distinguished Professor, and University Professor, at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
List of abbreviations	xv
Introduction	1	(10)
PART ONE: Historical analysis	11	(144)
The ICRC during its early years	13	(38)
The ICRC during the Cold War	51	(45)
The ICRC after the Cold War	96	(33)
The ICRC and the US ``war'' against terrorism	129	(26)
PART TWO: Policy analysis	155	(124)
ICRC principles and policies	157	(44)
ICRC structure and management: personnel, policy making, resources	201	(41)
The ICRC and international humanitarian law	242	(37)
PART THREE: Conclusion	279	(37)
Conclusion: the ICRC and the future	281	(35)
Annexe A The ICRC and the Red Cross movement	316	(1)
Annexe B The ICRC and selected private relief agencies	317	(1)
Annexe C The ICRC: one of the Big Four relief agencies	318	(1)
Annexe D The ICRC and selected advocacy groups	319	(1)
Annexe E The ICRC organizational chart	320	(1)
Bibliography	321	(18)
Index	339