Book contents
- Resilient Humanitarianism
- Resilient Humanitarianism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Disruption of the Red Cross Ecosystem
- 1 1919: Rebirth
- 2 1946: Recalibration
- 3 1975: Reflection
- Part II Global Health Initiatives
- Part III A Peacetime Organisation in War
- Part IV Providing Relief and Building Capacity
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
1 - 1919: Rebirth
from Part I - Disruption of the Red Cross Ecosystem
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 March 2026
Book contents
- Resilient Humanitarianism
- Resilient Humanitarianism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Disruption of the Red Cross Ecosystem
- 1 1919: Rebirth
- 2 1946: Recalibration
- 3 1975: Reflection
- Part II Global Health Initiatives
- Part III A Peacetime Organisation in War
- Part IV Providing Relief and Building Capacity
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
This is the first of three overview chapters examining pivotal moments in the history of the League of Red Cross Societies. The chapter offers insights into the origins of the League and how the challenges it faced in its first decade determined the shape of the world’s first international humanitarian network dedicated to improving global health and coordinating peacetime relief efforts. The chapter argues that the massive destruction wrought by the First World War opened new areas of humanitarian endeavour for the Red Cross movement, especially in public health, social welfare, and the eradication of diseases and the administration of disaster relief. During the 1920s, the League forged a form of ‘resilient humanitarianism’, marked by agility and an ability to adapt to changing conditions and circumstances.
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- Resilient HumanitarianismThe League of Red Cross Societies, 1919–1991, pp. 21 - 40Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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