An important contribution to the expanding library of meta-analysis of humanitarian action, the key idea underpinning The Golden Fleece is that there has never been a golden age of humanitarian action. Instead, there has always been a gap between the aspiration to a set of ideals (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence) and the political and practical reality of instrumentalization.
Donini, Antonio (2013) Review of The Golden Fleece: Manipulation and Independence in Humanitarian Action, in Journal of Peace Research 426–427.