Eastern Europe - A new Field of Humanitarian History

Defining “humanitarian” is by no means a simple endeavour: that is a sign of the considerable polysemy of the term, as well as of the debates that animate it. “Humanitarian” refers to a form of action (humanitarian action), work (humanitarian work), commitment (humanitarian commitment) for the benefit of people in need who require care, food, shelter; natural disasters, wars, economic crises generate deficiencies and violations of human dignity (imprisonment, abuse, torture). Philosophical and ideological debates, but also highly pragmatic considerations, have contributed to the emergence of humanitarian policies and of a global humanitarian space. Some even suggest a `humanitarian government`, meaning the deployment of moral sentiments in contemporary policies, with the advent of a genuine “humanitarian reason” (Fassin, 2010)