Humanity in Crisis: Ethical and Religious Response to Refugees - Paperback

by David Hollenbach (Author)

The major humanitarian crises of recent years are well known: the Shoah, the killing fields of Cambodia, Rwandan genocide, the massacre in Bosnia, the tsunami in southeast Asia, not to mention bloody conflicts in Sudan, Syria, and Afghanistan. Millions have been killed and many millions more have been driven from their homes; the world is sadly full of refugees and internally displaced persons. Could these crises have been prevented? Why do they continue? This book seeks to understand how humanity is in crisis, and what we can do about it. Hollenbach draws on the values that have shaped major humanitarian initiative over the past century and a half, such as the commitments of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Oxfam, Doctors without Borders, as well as the values of religious and ethical traditions, to examine the scope of our responsibilities and practical solutions to these global crises. He also explores the economic and political causes of these tragedies, drawing on on-the-ground interviews with refugees and government and NGO leaders, and uncovers key moral issues for practitioners in the field.

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Christian Ethics/Human Rights

"At a time when many developed states have shunned (non shared) responsibility for forced migrants, Hollenbach offers a language and moral vision rooted in human dignity and solidarity. Ultimately, this is a hopeful book, drawing on successful and integrated responses to past conflicts and other refugee producing conditions, to guide current responses."- Donald Kerwin, Executive Director, Center for Migration Studies of New York

The major humanitarian crises of recent years are well known: the Shoah, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Rwandan genocide, the massacre in Bosnia, and the tsunami in Southeast Asia, as well as the bloody conflicts in South Sudan, Syria, and Afghanistan. Millions have been killed and many millions more have been driven from their homes; the number of refugees and internally displaced persons has reached record levels. Could these crises have been prevented? Why do they continue to happen? This book seeks to understand how humanity itself is in crisis, and what we can do about it. Hollenbach draws on the values that have shaped major humanitarian initiatives over the past century and a half, such as the commitments of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Oxfam, and Doctors Without Borders, as well as the values of diverse religious traditions, including Catholicism, to examine the scope of our responsibilities and practical solutions to these global crises. Humanity in Crisis explores the economic and political causes of these tragedies, and uncovers key moral issues for both policymakers and practitioners working in humanitarian agencies and faith communities.

David Hollenbach, SJ, is the Pedro Arrupe Distinguished Research Professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service; a senior fellow of the Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; and an affiliated professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University. He is the author of several books, including The Global Face of Public Faith, (2004), and the editor of Driven From Home: Protecting the Rights of Forced Migrants (2010) and Refugee Rights: Ethics, Advocacy, and Africa (2008).

Moral Tradition Series

Author Biography

David Hollenbach, SJ, is the Pedro Arrupe Distinguished Research Professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service, a senior fellow of the Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, and an affiliated professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University. He is the author of several books, including The Global Face of Public Faith (GUP, 2004), and the editor of Driven From Home: Protecting the Rights of Forced Migrants (GUP 2010) and Refugee Rights: Ethics, Advocacy, and Africa (GUP 2008).