Humanitarian Myths and Hubris: A Critical Self-Portrait from Médecins Sans Frontières

This collective work offers a critical analysis of contemporary humanitarian action, through the prism of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).Initially created to provide healthcare to the most vulnerable populations in crisis-stricken countries, MSF has grown from just a few dozen members in 1971 to a movement of over 67,000 people with an annual budget of over 2 billion euros. But in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, many of the founding principles and myths surrounding its creation are questioned or undermined. The post-COVID era has been marked by a reinforcement or acceleration of pre-existing trends that continue to challenge the work of humanitarian organisations: restrictive, or indeed hostile, state policies; the presence of non-state actors in counter-terrorism contexts; questionable adherence to international humanitarian law. MSF must also address several key issues, such as combating discrimination, defining its position with regard to protest movements in countries of intervention, confronting challenges related to climate change and global health security, and safeguarding patients’ personal data.Drawing on the viewpoints of practitioners, analysts, and academics, this book will be an essential read for anyone engaged in or curious about humanitarian action.

About the Author

Duncan McLean is currently a Senior Researcher with MSF’s Research Unit on Humanitarian Stakes and Practices (UREPH), based in Geneva. Holding a PhD in history, he has published widely on the humanitarian sector, regularly lectures at universities throughout Europe, and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Humanitarian Affairs .

Françoise Duroch began working in the humanitarian field in the early 1990s with Handicap International, then with MSF. She has spent 15 years researching gender-based violence and holds a PhD in social sciences. She is a lecturer at several universities and currently coordinates the MSF Switzerland research unit in Geneva.

Amy Mavor holds master’s degrees in languages from the University of Edinburgh and translation from Université Rennes 2, and has worked since 2018 as Publishing and Editing Officer at MSF Switzerland’s research unit.