Introduction

This introductory chapter establishes the centrality and importance of humanitarian negotiation and begins to define this under-theorized field of practice. It argues that humanitarian negotiations have risen in prominence due to the expansion of the humanitarian sector and the changing nature of post-Cold War armed conflict. It cautions that many of the current dilemmas associated with humanitarian negotiation are not new and are instead consistent with the sector’s history. This chapter also briefly outlines the research method and the structure of the book.