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Solferino 21: Warfare, Civilians and Humanitarians in the Twenty-First Century
War is at a tipping we're passing from the age of
industrial warfare to a new era of computerised warfare, and a renewed risk of
great-power conflict. Humanitarian response is also evolving fast--'big aid'
demands more and more money, while aid workers try to digitalise, preparing to
meet ever-broader needs in the long, big wars and climate crisis of the future.
This book draws on the founding moment of the modern Red
Cross movement--the 1859 Battle of Solferino, a moment of great change in the
nature of conflict--to track the big shifts already underway, and still to
come, in the wars and war aid of our century. Hugo Slim first surveys the
current the tech, politics, law and strategy of warfare, and the
long-term transformations ahead as conflict goes digital. He then explains how
civilians both suffer and survive in today's wars, and how their world is
changing. Finally, he critiques today's humanitarian system, citing the
challenges of the 2020s.
Inspired by Henri Dunant's seminal humanitarian text,
Solferino 21 alerts policymakers to the coming shakeup of the military and aid
professions, illuminating key priorities for the new century. Humanitarians, he
warns, must adapt or fail.
industrial warfare to a new era of computerised warfare, and a renewed risk of
great-power conflict. Humanitarian response is also evolving fast--'big aid'
demands more and more money, while aid workers try to digitalise, preparing to
meet ever-broader needs in the long, big wars and climate crisis of the future.
This book draws on the founding moment of the modern Red
Cross movement--the 1859 Battle of Solferino, a moment of great change in the
nature of conflict--to track the big shifts already underway, and still to
come, in the wars and war aid of our century. Hugo Slim first surveys the
current the tech, politics, law and strategy of warfare, and the
long-term transformations ahead as conflict goes digital. He then explains how
civilians both suffer and survive in today's wars, and how their world is
changing. Finally, he critiques today's humanitarian system, citing the
challenges of the 2020s.
Inspired by Henri Dunant's seminal humanitarian text,
Solferino 21 alerts policymakers to the coming shakeup of the military and aid
professions, illuminating key priorities for the new century. Humanitarians, he
warns, must adapt or fail.
- GenresNonfiction
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2022
9 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 8, 2022
My policy when reviewing non-fiction books is to base my rating on its merits as a piece of literature, rather than the extent to which I agree with it. After all, my level of agreement does not necessarily reflect its contribution to society at large. In this case, however, the rating I offer is in relation to both its standing as a book and its ability to convince yours truly.
Yet before I proceed, I must confess two things. The first is that I am a layman in this field. The second is that I was actually involved in the launch (not the creation!) of this book at the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford, and have had the great pleasure to meet the author on a number of occasions. That said, I hope a reading of this book of your own will vindicate me and will allay any suspicions you may have that this review is nothing more than a toadying panegyric. Anyway, let's get on with it.
Although often in very different topics, I have had the (sometimes dubious) pleasure of reading a variety of academic texts. Yet in this book, Hugo Slim has I think encapsulated everything I believe such a text should be. It strides the gaps of erudition, clarity and brevity perfectly and, despite my relative ignorance, I never felt lost or patronised. All this is achieved, however, without any apparent loss to the book's academic integrity, for one can find sources galore to be pursued after completion. I don't think there is much more I can usefully say on the matter, though if every academic wrote in such a manner, I am convinced that one of the barriers that separate academia from proverbial 'man on the street' would fall away.
My position as a layman and ignorant I think lends some credence to my other major assertion that I believe this book offers those like me an essential introduction to the three subjects with which it concerns itself: warfare (it's developments and future), civilians (origins and mutations of the term) and humanitarians (a concept that was, for me at least, a nebulous one before reading this book).
In short ladies and gents, definitely one to read.
Yet before I proceed, I must confess two things. The first is that I am a layman in this field. The second is that I was actually involved in the launch (not the creation!) of this book at the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford, and have had the great pleasure to meet the author on a number of occasions. That said, I hope a reading of this book of your own will vindicate me and will allay any suspicions you may have that this review is nothing more than a toadying panegyric. Anyway, let's get on with it.
Although often in very different topics, I have had the (sometimes dubious) pleasure of reading a variety of academic texts. Yet in this book, Hugo Slim has I think encapsulated everything I believe such a text should be. It strides the gaps of erudition, clarity and brevity perfectly and, despite my relative ignorance, I never felt lost or patronised. All this is achieved, however, without any apparent loss to the book's academic integrity, for one can find sources galore to be pursued after completion. I don't think there is much more I can usefully say on the matter, though if every academic wrote in such a manner, I am convinced that one of the barriers that separate academia from proverbial 'man on the street' would fall away.
My position as a layman and ignorant I think lends some credence to my other major assertion that I believe this book offers those like me an essential introduction to the three subjects with which it concerns itself: warfare (it's developments and future), civilians (origins and mutations of the term) and humanitarians (a concept that was, for me at least, a nebulous one before reading this book).
In short ladies and gents, definitely one to read.
June 5, 2022
Written in partnership with the Red Cross movement, this book provides an overview of the status of armed conflict, the experience of civilians in it, and humanitarians responding to it. More specifically, it is discussing current trends, and making projections for what are likely to be the largest issues on the humanitarian horizon. Slim argues that the desire of humanitarians to respond to every single need has created a gigantic lumbering humanitarian system larger and more costly to maintain than ever before, even though the effects of conflict and disaster have been declining. He makes a call for a truly global humanitarian system (not merely the present Western one), that is able to accept a diversity of humanitarianisms rather than a single prescribed model. The book is a relatively short one, though very interesting, especially in the areas where Slim is trying to challenge dominant conventional wisdom in the humanitarian sector. A recommended read for anyone wondering about the future of humanitarianism.
December 24, 2022
Highly recommend. This book is essential to those planning a career in aid, thought provoking to those already working in aid, and enlightening to those who care about aid.
Hugo Slim doesn't only shares an easy to follow summary of the history of warfare and aid since the time of Dunant and how they affect civillians caught in deadly conflicts, but also how things changed and what to expect for the future.
He challenges many paradigms that goes untold, except in whispers around water coolers, in the humanitarian world, but never make it to startegies, let alone concrete action points.
Hugo Slim doesn't only shares an easy to follow summary of the history of warfare and aid since the time of Dunant and how they affect civillians caught in deadly conflicts, but also how things changed and what to expect for the future.
He challenges many paradigms that goes untold, except in whispers around water coolers, in the humanitarian world, but never make it to startegies, let alone concrete action points.
June 7, 2025
A timely book — my first by Hugo Slim! Written during the COVID pandemic, it aims to reflect upon more than 160 years of institutionalized humanitarianism — since Henri Dunant, the later founder of the Red Cross, witnessed the suffering caused by the aftermath of the battle of Solferino — to characterize where we currently stand and try to identify the main challenges the sector will face in the 21st century.
The book is easy to read without being too light. It strikes, in my opinion, the optimal balance between being approachable to the general public and not compromising the exactitude that those familiar with and working in this domain might expect.
After a brief, enticing introduction, it is divided into three main parts: Warfare, which explores how war has been fought throughout the years and how it is expected to evolve in the years to come; Civilians, highlighting the exploding challenges and human needs that arise as armed conflicts increasingly take place in urban settings; and finally, Humanitarians, offering a just, yet exigent, look at the collective body of workers who currently devote their lives to alleviating suffering, protecting human rights, and saving lives. A section that challenges us to keep improving ourselves and to better organize — internationally, nationally, and locally — echoing Dunant's first vision of what organized aid should be.
A book not to miss, which I read while on mission in remote Nepal. It made me great company during starry nights in the imposing mountains, as I reflected on how to shape — and what to expect from — the professional years ahead. Slim ends with a simple but poignant phrase, where he, despite the dark challenges ahead, reaffirms his hope and trust in a new generation of humanitarians. I too remain positive, trusting in our courage and imagination — just like the author — to best respond to whatever comes.
The book is easy to read without being too light. It strikes, in my opinion, the optimal balance between being approachable to the general public and not compromising the exactitude that those familiar with and working in this domain might expect.
After a brief, enticing introduction, it is divided into three main parts: Warfare, which explores how war has been fought throughout the years and how it is expected to evolve in the years to come; Civilians, highlighting the exploding challenges and human needs that arise as armed conflicts increasingly take place in urban settings; and finally, Humanitarians, offering a just, yet exigent, look at the collective body of workers who currently devote their lives to alleviating suffering, protecting human rights, and saving lives. A section that challenges us to keep improving ourselves and to better organize — internationally, nationally, and locally — echoing Dunant's first vision of what organized aid should be.
A book not to miss, which I read while on mission in remote Nepal. It made me great company during starry nights in the imposing mountains, as I reflected on how to shape — and what to expect from — the professional years ahead. Slim ends with a simple but poignant phrase, where he, despite the dark challenges ahead, reaffirms his hope and trust in a new generation of humanitarians. I too remain positive, trusting in our courage and imagination — just like the author — to best respond to whatever comes.
June 12, 2023
Bit dry but worthwhile.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews