The Business of Conflict: Humanitarian Assistance and the War Economy in Syria

Everybody’s War examines the complexities of humanitarianism in Syria and the wide-ranging consequences for both Syria’s populations and humanitarian responses to future conflicts. Duncan McLean presents an example of how humanitarian aid did adapt to the realities of the Syria war, and the context of besiegement in particular, by reaching populations under siege through utilizing the corruption mechanisms of informal networks and smugglers. In this case, however, it was through humanitarian actors’ adaptations to the realities of besiegement that the aid system contributed to the war economy.

Order the book