In this book chapter Katherine Marshall explores the origins of the modern humanitarian system and how it may need to evolve to meet contemporary challenges. The term "humanitarian" is broadly linked to efforts to promote human welfare and has ancient religious and secular roots that highlight an ethic of care. However, in global affairs it generally most refers to organized, theoretically short-term emergency efforts to respond to crises and to save lives. Local humanitarian responses are vitally important, but transnational responses have assumed increasingly larger roles. A complex set of institutions has emerged that focus on this response, involving international organizations, national governments, non-government actors, and private sector organizations. Marshall concludes that in the face of numerous challenges, stakeholders will need to focus on implementation of worthy commitments to reform and support for a strengthened system positioned to respond to what will certainly be greater humanitarian challenges in the future. The chapter was published in the Oxford Handbook of Global Studies.
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