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Abstract

Popular images of humanitarian aid workers handing out food in refugee camps and vaccinating children in isolated areas, often in the midst of ongoing political violence, portray a clear synergy between the goals of the humanitarian and the aims of the peacebuilder. While the practices they engage in are often different, there is an overlap in terms of their ethical stance towards violence and their political commitment to engage in activities which will alleviate human suffering. This chapter will reflect on these commonalities, arguing that such an overlap is indeed present but that the shared sense of purpose is also regularly questioned. Through these reflections, the chapter will uncover the ways in which the goals of liberal peace are simultaneously adopted, adapted and challenged by humanitarians.

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© 2016 Jenny H. Peterson

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Peterson, J.H. (2016). Humanitarianism and Peace. In: Richmond, O.P., Pogodda, S., Ramović, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Disciplinary and Regional Approaches to Peace. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-40761-0_18

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