2 - The ICRC and the Global Humanitarian System

Summary

This chapter provides an overview of the global humanitarian system. This overview shows that the changing nature of world affairs has contributed to the ICRC moving in certain policy directions. Such factors as competition with many other humanitarian actors, plus the desires of donors and beneficiaries and partners, has helped push the ICRC into a broader range of activities. Such factors as the end of the Cold War, the rise of many protracted conflicts or forever wars, a more active United Nations, and other changes have indeed affected ICRC policy choices. The critics of the ICRC are thus placed in broad context. The spread ICRC activity is thus noted, while leaving a full evaluation of what is desirable and what should be reviewed to later chapters.