Whether they are in Syria, Venezuela, or Liberia, world humanitarian crises that put extensive populations at risk are often understood as mediated (if not ameliorated) by organizations such as Doctors without Borders or the Red Cross. Indeed, understanding the depth of such crises may often come from the statements and information shared by such organizations, which are customarily seen as on-site, objective, and expert. However, Hasian contends that these organizations are not autonomous players but are subject to economic and cultural factors that influence how they testify (the te´moignage of the title) or bear witness to crises. He argues that the political will of these organizations in the face of such factors is what determines if these organizations can offer successful medical advocacy. Hasian's case studies—from Red Cross inaction during the Spanish gas attacks in Morocco in the 1920s to failure of humanitarian organizations to speak out against Western targeting of hospitals in Syria in recent years—reveal how accommodation can undercut political will. A dense read, this book may not necessarily align with coursework in communication or health, but it could be a resource for public health, international studies, and, possibly, public diplomacy. It could also be a valuable research reference for scholars studying cross-cultural communication more broadly.



Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, and professionals.

Choice Reviews

Hasian's Communicating during Humanitarian Medical Crises is one of the - if not the - first project on tracking the way that medical humanitarianism functions as a rhetorical enterprise. Employing deft historical analyses of late 19th century to 21st century cases involving 'medical advocacy,' Hasian argues robustly that political will dictates the success of medical efforts, rather than simply humanitarian principles alone. Whether aid groups succeed in their aims depends largely on the presence or absence of their political will. In the process of his smart, original, and watershed examination of rhetorical text in ideological contexts, Hasian reminds us that medical humanitarian work is framed as politicized in and of itself. This is a must-read for those interested in medical humanities, health rhetoric, the rhetoric of science, and ideological discourses of humanitarianism, especially in medical advocacy milieus.

Jason Black, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Hasian presents an engrossing tour of the evolution of medical humanitarianism in the 20th and 21st centuries. The twists and turns of neglect, relief and weaponization are highlighted--illustrating the power of crisis to manifest multiple rhetorical formations for both the good and ill of those most vulnerable.

Stephanie Houston Grey, Louisiana State University