This book provides a historical account of the non-governmental organization CARE, one of the largest humanitarian NGOs worldwide. Beginning in the 1940s, the author analyzes CARE’s history, taking into account both the organization’s specific development and general trends of humanitarian history throughout the second half of the twentieth century. She provides an intriguing perspective on one of the most innovative and fast-growing private humanitarian players in the field of global hunger relief, and analyzes CARE’s intricate relations to international governments, NGOs and corporate player ... More

This book provides a historical account of the non-governmental organization CARE, one of the largest humanitarian NGOs worldwide. Beginning in the 1940s, the author analyzes CARE’s history, taking into account both the organization’s specific development and general trends of humanitarian history throughout the second half of the twentieth century. She provides an intriguing perspective on one of the most innovative and fast-growing private humanitarian players in the field of global hunger relief, and analyzes CARE’s intricate relations to international governments, NGOs and corporate players in the United States and beyond. Readers interested in international relations and humanitarian hunger prevention are provided with fascinating insights into the economic and business-related aspects of non-governmental politics, fundraising and philanthropic giving in this field. The book also offers an intriguing account of CARE’s drive toward organizational size, economic growth and expansion into new fields of service, from individual CARE packages to Europeans to large-scale school-feeding projects and development aid. The author gives centre stage to the individuals and groups that have shaped CARE’s history since the end of the Second World War. The book is an important contribution to the growing field of humanitarian history. Not only does it contribute to ongoing research about the rise of NGOs in the international realm, it also offers very rich empirical material on the political implications of private and governmental international aid in a world marked by the Cold War order, decolonialization processes and the struggle of so-called third world countries to catch up with Western industrialized countries and modern consumer societies.