Religious Humanitarianism during the World Wars, 1914–1945 - Between Atheism and Messianism

The history of modern war has focused on destruction; however, practices of saving lives and rebuilding societies have received far less scrutiny. The world wars reconfigured geopolitics on a sacred-secular spectrum dominated by the USA and the USSR. In these events, the motivations of humanitarian actors are disputed as either secular or religious, evoking approval or censure. Although modern global humanitarianism emerged during the world wars, it is often studied in a Euro-centric framework that does not engage the conflicts' globality. The effects of humanitarianism during the Second World War look toward the post-1945 era with not enough reflection on the pre-1945 history of humanitarianism. Thus, what is needed is a critical history beyond moralizing, bringing synchronic and diachronic expansion to study questions of continuity and change. A global history of religious humanitarianism during both world wars places faith-based humanitarianism on a spectrum of belief and unbelief.

List of contents

Introduction; The first world war: a human-caused disaster; The Russian civil war: global atheism and messianism; Making the modern middle east: reconfiguring the holy land; Interwar years: civilizing missions; The second world war and postwar period: genocide and 'never again'?; Global mission and development: colonialism continued?; Conclusion; Bibliography.

Summary

This Element describes that although modern global humanitarianism emerged during the world wars, it is often studied in a Euro-centric framework that does not engage globality. The effects of humanitarianism during the Second World War look toward the post-1945 era with not enough reflection on the pre-1945 history of humanitarianism.

Product details

• Authors: Patrick J. Houlihan
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.06.2024
• EAN: 9781009472272
• ISBN: 978-1-00-947227-2
• Weight: 262 g
• Illustrations: Worked examples or Exercises
• Series: Elements in Modern Wars
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Human Rights, First World War, HISTORY / Military / General, military history, Second World War, Social issues & processes, Aid & relief programmes, Civil rights & citizenship, c 1914 to c 1918 (including WW1), c 1939 to c 1945 (including WW2), Human rights, civil rights, Agnosticism and atheism, Agnosticism & Atheism, Civil wars, Aid and relief programmes, Aiding escape and evasion