ABSTRACT
The exponential growth in the number of humanitarian international non-governmental organizations over the past century is ‘often celebrated as an indication of growing cosmopolitanism and conscience’ (Calhoun 2008: 85). Insofar as contemporary societies are involved in ever more intensive processes of ‘cosmopolitanization’ then it may be argued that the cultural appeal, political influence and bureaucratic organization of humanitarian action are signs of ever more widespread commitments to ‘global citizenship’ (Beck 1999: 37–40; 2006). It is often assumed that by venturing to understand the conditions that establish and sustain modern humanitarianism we are also set to negotiate with the moral substance and social meaning of cosmopolitanism.
