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Voluntas (2017) 28:450451
DOI 10.1007/s11266-016-9748-6
BOOK REVIEW
Martin Barber, Blinded by Humanity: Inside the UNs Humanitarian Operations
I. B. Taurus, London and New York, 2015, pp. 224, bibliography, glossary, index, $40.00
Max Stephenson Jr1
Published online: 13 June 2016 International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University 2016
This volume is a hybrid, as it serves as a memoir of a high-level professional with three decades of service to the United Nations (UN) in humanitarian and peace-related operations, and as an often thoughtful critique of the structure, processes, and political dynamics of the institution and efforts with which the author was engaged. Since Barber holds a doctoral degree in Southeast Asian Sociology and cites key academic literature at points throughout, the effort might also be described as an attempt to bridge the scholarprofessional/practitioner divide by illuminating existing understanding with examples of practice. During his long career, Barber served in Laos and Thailand, in Afghanistan and in New York and Geneva, among other postings. His last role before retiring in 2005 was as Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service at UN Headquarters in New York. He now serves as a consultant on humanitarian issues and is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.
As a...