ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the historical backdrop against which the growing interest in mass atrocity intervention and the related shift in moral sentiments evolved. It identifies the major trends and changes that altered the nature and orientation of humanitarian and human rights activism from roughly 1975 to 2011, focusing on the histories of the two movements that are the case studies of this research. Professionalization is a trend that decisively changed the nature and orientation of humanitarian and human rights activism over recent decades. The 'mainstreaming' of humanitarianism and human rights altered the nature of humanitarian and human rights organizations. Expertise and professional development rather than ideology became a primary motivation for becoming a human rights or humanitarian professional. Much more than the East Timor solidarity movement, the R2P-coalition consists of and closely collaborates with academics.
