The Practice of Humanitarian Intervention

‘This meticulous study of international engagement in the Congo draws out the two worlds of humanitarian intervention: the self-referential and self-legitimising world of Western actors, engaged in projects of assistance and protection, and the other, less studied, world of Congolese social and political interaction. These two worlds coexist and interact in a multitude of ways which challenge Western self-understandings and help to clarify the contradictions and limits of international practices on the ground. Conceptually informed and empirically rich, this book is a major contribution to the field.’ -- David Chandler, University of Westminster, UK

‘The Practice of Humanitarian Intervention is a fine supplement to the emerging literature that looks beyond and beneath policy statements and headquarter levels and aim for grounded ethnographic approach to external interventions. Through a detailed case study of DR Congo, Dr. Koddenbruck adds to our understanding of the multitude of external interventions in this country, but also contributes strongly to opening up a new and promising terrain for theorising and conceptual elaborations in-between IR and ethnographic-inspired work.’ -- Morten Boas, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Norway

‘This book is a showcase how empirical depth and up-to-date theoretical reflection can reveal the ambiguity – if not at times the absurdity – of those instances of internationalized rule that we call ‘interventions’. In a world in which more and more layers of authority overlap, these might well be insights into our common future.’ -- Klaus Schlichte, University of Bremen, Germany

‘The Practice of Humanitarian Intervention is an original analysis full of fascinating insights and grappling stories about international aid in Congo. It is an excellent resource for all those interested in better understanding the peculiar world that interventional interveners inhabit.’ -- Séverine Autesserre, Columbia University, USA.

‘Social transformation takes deep social penetration. As Koddenbrock demonstrates in minute detail, half a century of Western intervention amounts to little more than a road trip. Predictably, superficial engagement spells superficial transformation.’ -- Iver Neumann, LSE, UK.

'From the heart of darkness under the colonial rule to the heart of goodness epitomized by humanitarian interventions, Kai Koddenbrock traces the fate of Congo in its tragic encounters with the various avatars of the Western world's engagement on the African continent. Focusing on the actual practices of peacekeepers and aid workers, this short and dense book is an important contribution to the understanding from below of contemporary international relations.' -- Didier Fassin, Institute for Advanced Study, USA