
Everybody's War
The Politics of Aid in the Syria Crisis
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 5. January 2022
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-0-19-751464-1 (ISBN)
Description
The Syrian crisis is one of the most serious humanitarian disasters in recent history. Yet the widely reported numbers--more than 6 million displaced, including 5 million refugees--reflect only a fractional toll of the conflict. Numerous international organizations, states, and civil society movements have called for the laws of war to be respected, sieges lifted, and humanitarian access facilitated. But beneath each of these humanitarian appeals lies a complicated reality extending beyond the binary narratives that have come to define the war in Syria.
Everybody's War examines the complexities of humanitarianism in Syria and the wide-ranging consequences for both Syria's populations and humanitarian responses to future conflicts. Organized by Medecins Sans Frontieres, this edited volume brings together academics and humanitarian practitioners from across the globe to provide a multitude of perspectives on the politics of aid in the Syrian war. Contributors explore the humanitarian crisis behind the Syrian conflict through the history and fragmentation of Syrian health care, the role of international humanitarian law in enabling attacks on health facilities, and the lived experience of siege in all its layers. Further attention is given to the ways in which humanitarian actors have fed the war economy and joined the information wars that have raged throughout the region over the past ten years.
While the Syrian crisis has been everybody's war, it has certainly not been everybody's victory. This volume shares the intricate story of aid delivery and humanitarian complicity within one of the defining conflicts of the twenty-first century.
Everybody's War examines the complexities of humanitarianism in Syria and the wide-ranging consequences for both Syria's populations and humanitarian responses to future conflicts. Organized by Medecins Sans Frontieres, this edited volume brings together academics and humanitarian practitioners from across the globe to provide a multitude of perspectives on the politics of aid in the Syrian war. Contributors explore the humanitarian crisis behind the Syrian conflict through the history and fragmentation of Syrian health care, the role of international humanitarian law in enabling attacks on health facilities, and the lived experience of siege in all its layers. Further attention is given to the ways in which humanitarian actors have fed the war economy and joined the information wars that have raged throughout the region over the past ten years.
While the Syrian crisis has been everybody's war, it has certainly not been everybody's victory. This volume shares the intricate story of aid delivery and humanitarian complicity within one of the defining conflicts of the twenty-first century.
Reviews / Votes
Ultimately, Everybody's War is a positive example of the insights that can be gained through collaboration between humanitarian aid actors, both international and local, and scholars of humanitarianism ... In addition to making a solid contribution to academic debates about the effectiveness and relevance of humanitarian neutrality in contemporary wars, this volume will prove useful in courses devoted to humanitarianism and peace and conflict studies. * Nell Gabiam, Middle East Journal * Everybody's War casts an unsparing and critical light on the challenges faced by humanitarians caught between the politics of war and the moral duty to save lives. Through diverse chapters, it problematizes the many inhumanities of the Syrian conflict and questions the future of humanitarianism when civilians become the targets of war. This troubling but essential volume is long overdue, and vitally needed. * Antonio Donini, Graduate Institute, Geneva and Co-founder, United Against Inhumanity * This book highlights the political intricacies of aid in Syria and the challenges experienced by Syrians. It provides valuable insights for INGOs operating in conflict zones by showcasing shortcomings and political implications, offering lessons that can be applied to potentially avert similar pitfalls in Syria and different conflict settings. * Sima Aldardari, Journal of Development Studies *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
11 figures and tables
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
476 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-751464-1 (9780197514641)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Jehan Bseiso | Michiel Hofman | Jonathan Whittall
Everybody's War
The Politics of Aid in the Syria Crisis
E-Book
08/2021
OUP eBook
€18.49
Available for download

Jehan Bseiso | Michiel Hofman | Jonathan Whittall
Everybody's War
The Politics of Aid in the Syria Crisis
E-Book
08/2021
OUP eBook
€18.49
Available for download
Persons
Jehan Bseiso is Executive Director for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Lebanon. She joined MSF in 2008 and worked in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Ethiopia, and Belgium, primarily in communications and advocacy.
Michiel Hofman has been Senior Humanitarian Specialist for MSF based out of Belfast since 2011. Previously, he worked for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in field missions between 1993 and 1998 as Emergency Coordinator and Head of Mission for MSF in Liberia, DRC, Bosnia, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Brazil, South Sudan and Kosovo. He is also Co-founder of The Antares Foundation, a Dutch non-profit organisation which supports local NGOs in providing psychosocial support for staff working in high-stress environments.
Jonathan Whittall is Director of the Analysis department for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Operational Centre in Brussels. He previously established and led MSF's Programmes Unit in Southern Africa before becoming head of humanitarian analysis for MSF.
He has worked in MSF emergency projects in South Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.
Michiel Hofman has been Senior Humanitarian Specialist for MSF based out of Belfast since 2011. Previously, he worked for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in field missions between 1993 and 1998 as Emergency Coordinator and Head of Mission for MSF in Liberia, DRC, Bosnia, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Brazil, South Sudan and Kosovo. He is also Co-founder of The Antares Foundation, a Dutch non-profit organisation which supports local NGOs in providing psychosocial support for staff working in high-stress environments.
Jonathan Whittall is Director of the Analysis department for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Operational Centre in Brussels. He previously established and led MSF's Programmes Unit in Southern Africa before becoming head of humanitarian analysis for MSF.
He has worked in MSF emergency projects in South Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.
Editor
Executive DirectorExecutive Director, Medecins Sans Frontieres - Lebanon
Senior Humanitarian SpecialistSenior Humanitarian Specialist, Medecins Sans Frontieres
Director of the Analysis DepartmentDirector of the Analysis Department, Medecins Sans Frontieres Operational Centre in Brussels
Content
Contributor List
Foreword
Amani Ballour
Introduction
Jehan Bseiso, Michiel Hofman, and Jonathan Whittall
Chapter 1. Contested Statehood: The Politics of Health Care in Syria
Omar Dewachi, Fouad Gehad Marei, and Jonathan Whittall
Chapter 2. Health System Fragmentation and the Syrian Conflict
Aula Abbara, Manar Marzouk, and Hala Mkhallalati
Chapter 3. The Moral Norm, the Law, and the Limits of Protection for Wartime Medical Units
Neve Gordon
Chapter 4. When Perceptions and Aspirations Clash: Humanitarianism in Syria's Neighboring States
Dawn Chatty
Chapter 5. The Business of Conflict: Humanitarian Assistance and the War Economy in Syria
Duncan McLean
Chapter 6. Endless Siege: The Chain of Complicity in Syrian Suffering
Jonathan Whittall
Chapter 7. Information Warfare and the Role of Global Humanitarians
Alexey Khlebnikov
Chapter 8. Naming and Shaming the Bombers
Michiel Hofman
Foreword
Amani Ballour
Introduction
Jehan Bseiso, Michiel Hofman, and Jonathan Whittall
Chapter 1. Contested Statehood: The Politics of Health Care in Syria
Omar Dewachi, Fouad Gehad Marei, and Jonathan Whittall
Chapter 2. Health System Fragmentation and the Syrian Conflict
Aula Abbara, Manar Marzouk, and Hala Mkhallalati
Chapter 3. The Moral Norm, the Law, and the Limits of Protection for Wartime Medical Units
Neve Gordon
Chapter 4. When Perceptions and Aspirations Clash: Humanitarianism in Syria's Neighboring States
Dawn Chatty
Chapter 5. The Business of Conflict: Humanitarian Assistance and the War Economy in Syria
Duncan McLean
Chapter 6. Endless Siege: The Chain of Complicity in Syrian Suffering
Jonathan Whittall
Chapter 7. Information Warfare and the Role of Global Humanitarians
Alexey Khlebnikov
Chapter 8. Naming and Shaming the Bombers
Michiel Hofman