Aid to Armenia

'This is the 11th volume in the timely and consistently well-edited series “Humanitarianism: Key Debates and New Approaches.” Ten essays, an important introduction, an afterword, and an epilogue present and analyze over a century of humanitarian attempts to help Armenia and Armenians when they were ruled by Ottoman Turkey, Tsarist Russia, and the Soviet Union, or after independence. Some of the best essays are specific and focused, such as Sossie Kasbarian’s “Refuge in the ‘Homeland,’” about Syrian Armenians seeking shelter and humanitarian help due to the ongoing catastrophe in Syria. Others offer accounts of and draw lessons from countries contributing aid, as in Heitor Loureiro’s surprising narrative of attempts to engage Brazil. Vahé Tachjian’s thoughtful account of contributions from a major philanthropic organization of the Armenian diaspora helpfully directs attention to non-state sources of assistance. Not all essays can be enumerated, but Asya Darbinyan’s rich and compact examination of Russian imperial responses to humanitarian catastrophe achieves a particularly complex task well, pointing out differences between assistance coming from first responders, institutions, and then states. The editors instructively summarize the wealth of actions and discourses that together constitute not just Armenian but all modern humanitarianism in this essential collection.' CHOICE -- .