Towards a strategic view of humanitarian action

International audienceHumanitarian action has been the subject of much research over the past thirty years, particularly in the fields of international law, sociology, economics and logistics. The most commonly debated issues concern the legitimacy of humanitarian action and the choice of the most effective means to ensure its success. These questions are relevant but they tend to underestimate the strategic dimension of any humanitarian action. The research note suggests a way of thinking in this direction, with reference to the dual analysis of the contextual game rules and the practices of strategic actors