If you want to make the world a better place or dream of a career in the non-profit sector, then this is your course! We will study war zones, scrutinize development projects in the “Third World,” and investigate how celebrities shape the public imaginary of humanitarianism. Rather than taking for granted that “doing good” is a self-evident moral project, the goal of this course is to explore the internal logics, effects, and moral stakes of humanitarianism in the twentieth and twenty-first century. Some scholars have suggested that the repertoires of modern humanitarian intervention reproduce older forms of Western imperialism. Other critics have argued that human empathy may be a poor guide to social policy, while others have shown that humanitarian work may be more haphazard and messy than is generally assumed. Many observers have even wondered: Is “doing good” a selfless practice after all or does it serve to satisfy the interests and motivations of those who donate, help, and volunteer? We will listen, read, and watch analyses from academics, activists, public intellectuals, and practitioners to find answers to these questions. Humanitarianism is an “undisciplined” field populated by various actors, sets of knowledge, and technologies, which is why we will investigate a variety of disciplines such as history, anthropology, political science, behavioral economics, moral philosophy, and psychology. Students from all disciplines are welcome to participate and contribute their interest in this topic. After a semester spent unpacking humanitarianism, our final goal will be to find solutions for improving the humanitarian mandate of “doing good” in the world. Are you up for the challenge?