About us

The Humanitarian Research Group (HRG) is a Recognised Group within the Department of International Development.

The HRG brings together scholars who conduct theoretically ambitious and empirically grounded research on the nature of humanitarianism and crisis at a time of profound global uncertainty. The contemporary moment is defined by political violence, climate change, and declining multilateralism that have challenged the moral, epistemological and institutional foundations of global aid. The HRG interrogates the causes, consequences and experiences of intersecting crises, and how different humanitarianisms are imagined, legitimised, and contested. Our purpose is to serve as a focal point for interdisciplinary collaboration, research innovation, and policy engagement within the LSE and beyond. The group has three aims:

1. To generate and disseminate influential research that critically analyses the causes and consequences of contemporary humanitarian crises.
2. To translate crucial academic insights for humanitarian policy and government audiences.
3. To sustain a vibrant network of academics, students, and practitioners interested in questions around crisis and humanitarianism.