On the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the French Red Cross, the Foundation has chosen to honor historians—researchers who uncover questions and answers through the rigorous analysis of the past. Their work contributes to enriching and guiding reflections on humanitarian and social action. Several of these historians have received awards from the Foundation or conducted research supported by it.
To this end, the Foundation invited three distinguished historians:
- Isabelle Vonèche Cardia, a historian of humanitarianism, lecturer-researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), and a member of the Foundation’s Scientific Council
- Eleanor Davey, a historian of humanitarianism and independent researcher, recipient of a 2016 research award from the Foundation
- Marie-Luce Desgrandschamps, lecturer in the Department of General History at the University of Geneva and recipient of a 2018 research award from the Foundation
and asked them why it is important to invest in history if we want to build organisations for the future. Read their answers below.
A reservoir of experiences that can clarify current challenges
“History reminds us that many challenges have already been faced, and numerous solutions have been imagined, tested, and implemented,” explains Isabelle Vonèche Cardia. Situations that seem entirely new often are not. History offers a reservoir of experiences and responses that can clarify current challenges. “Our primary mission is to narrate and document,” emphasizes Eleanor Davey. The historical perspective allows arguments to be tested against past events, particularly in the context of ethical debates. For instance, should humanitarians negotiate with armed groups? The 1990s and 2000s, shaped by the War on Terror, hardened positions and intervention rules. Yet, history reminds us that such practices existed in earlier times.
History helps us step back and question what might seem obvious, including established norms. “Examining the silence of the ICRC during World War II, particularly regarding the deportations, can serve as a compass for dealing with certain humanitarian dilemmas,” asserts Isabelle Vonèche Cardia. This reflection has fostered a kind of “right of initiative,” embedded in the Geneva Conventions and utilized, for example, in the former Yugoslavia to take a stand.
While history offers valuable lessons, its primary role is to prompt inquiry and drive progress. Past events do not contain ready-made answers. “History doesn’t provide perfect solutions,” stresses Marie-Luce Desgrandschamps. “In the recurring dilemmas of humanitarian action, no choice can be exemplary if stripped from its context. Past experiences serve mainly as warnings. History encourages humility and underscores the need to combine perspectives to address the complex situations in which humanitarian action unfolds.”
A help to adapt to change
Faced with the urgency of humanitarian work, history offers a deeper perspective by proposing alternative ways to view the present. “It is through its method of framing questions that historical study can illuminate contemporary issues,” says Eleanor Davey. “History invites us to reopen debates, challenge accepted narratives, and question dominant discourses. It dismantles preconceived notions, habitual practices, and automatic choices.” In doing so, it helps adapt to change. By examining NGO narratives, Eleanor Davey paves the way for new reflections and directions. “NGOs have identities. This is useful, and the goal is not to discard them, but to place them in context and view them with distance, ensuring they do not dictate the future.” This historical lens can also enrich discussions on the localization of aid, which impacts the relationship between local populations, civil society, and international NGOs. “Many NGOs are seeking tools to reflect on their ‘decolonization,'” explains Marie-Luce Desgrandschamps. “This process often begins with a better understanding of their own past and the contexts in which their activities took root. Though sometimes painful, this initial step helps uncover colonial legacies that may have shaped their practices and perceptions.
History allows organisations to understand where they stand, enabling progress in their partnerships.” History can also act as a revealer. Viewing the present through the lens of the past sometimes exposes boundaries that have been crossed. “Attacking hospitals was once unthinkable,” notes Isabelle Vonèche Cardia. “Respecting hospitals and the wounded is a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law, and it is central to the Red Cross’s origins, exemplified by Dunant’s famous phrase, ‘Tutti fratelli,’ on the battlefield of Solferino. In today’s wars, this prohibition has eroded.” For Eleanor Davey, history’s role is not to pass judgment but to provoke reflection. “In this regard, the extreme tightening of refugee policies and anti-migrant measures raises profound questions about the changes happening before our eyes.”
