Publication

This paper examines how the Arabic definition of humanitarianism has changed over time and what impact this has had on humanitarian action in the Arab World. The author also explores how humanitarianism has been practiced in the Arab World and the effect past and contemporary developments - such as Western colonial ambitions during the period of the Ottoman Empire, the Arab-Israeli conflict and, more recently, the effect of the Arab Spring - have had on humanitarian action in the region. She finds that while humanitarianism in the Arab World has changed according to time, place and circumstance, it has maintained a relatively constant essential core.