The Humanitarian Fable: Saviorism, Race, and Aid

By David Jefferess

The Humanitarian Fable examines how popular humanitarian communication constructs global poverty as a moral narrative that reinforces unequal power dynamics between the Global North and Global South.

Taking a cultural studies approach, the book argues that humanitarian discourse places too much emphasis on the involvement of Global North initiatives, while avoiding meaningful engagement with the structural causes of inequality. By critiquing humanitarianism as the dominant framework for understanding global poverty, the author challenges readers to consider alternative approaches grounded in justice, decolonization, and addressing ongoing exploitation.

This interdisciplinary text will interest academic researchers, instructors, and students across disciplines, including Cultural Studies, International Development Studies, Education, Human Rights, and Communication Studies.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041154682
• ISBN13: 9781041154686
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"