Médecins sans frontières entre mythes et prétention(s)
The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme is organising an evening presentation of the book Médecins sans frontières entre mythes et prétention(s) (Médecins Sans Frontières: Between Myths and Claims), published in January 2026 by Antipodes.
This ‘Livres en dialogue’ session will welcome Thierry Allafort-Duverger, who wrote a chapter of the book, along with Françoise Duroch, co-editor of the book, who will be in conversation with journalist Mélanie Chalandon.
At the end of the event, you will have the opportunity to ask our guests any questions you may have.
With Médecins Sans Frontières entre mythes et prétention(s), the organisation agrees to take an introspective and resolutely critical look at itself. This collective work, developed from within by practitioners, analysts and academics linked to MSF, examines the tensions, contradictions and contemporary challenges of medical humanitarian work: internal discrimination, disputes in the field, decolonisation issues, the climate crisis and changes in international solidarity.
Why read this book? Because a major humanitarian organisation has agreed to submit itself to uncompromising critical scrutiny. Because the questions raised by the case of MSF go far beyond this single organisation and shed light on the current crises facing humanitarian action as a whole. And because the book combines academic rigour with field experience to offer concrete ideas about the future of medical humanitarian aid, between ethical requirements, operational constraints and political and social changes.
Edited by Françoise Duroch, Duncan McLean and Amy Mavor, members of the Research Unit on Humanitarian Issues and Practices at MSF Switzerland, the book combines academic analysis with feedback from the field. It is aimed at professionals in the sector, researchers and anyone wishing to understand the current upheavals in humanitarian action.
Published in French by Éditions Antipodes, the book is being released simultaneously in English by Routledge, affirming the international scope of this reflection.
Founded in 1971 by a group of doctors and journalists in Paris, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has grown from a handful of volunteers to more than 70,000 people with a budget of over €2 billion. Nevertheless, the organisation still conveys its mythology today, namely ‘a voice chosen by history’, where French doctors oppose the silence of the International Committee of the Red Cross during the Biafra war.
The image of the heroic rescuer, often depicted in communications that now aim to be more inclusive, and fundamental principles combining neutrality, impartiality and independence, are now being challenged. In the post-Covid era, another reality is emerging, combining sovereignist tensions between states, declining funding from major donors, the presence of non-state actors in the context of the fight against terrorism, and even the criminalisation of humanitarian aid. New issues are emerging, such as health security, the challenges of climate change and the protection of patients' personal data.
It therefore seems essential to question the role of humanitarian aid in the face of these challenges and to consider the adjustments needed to maintain a significant impact on the most vulnerable populations. This book offers a critical examination of MSF, which we hope will resonate with the concerns of other aid agencies and the general public.
Françoise Duroch holds a PhD in Education Sciences from the University of Lyon 2, as well as two Master's degrees (History, Law and Human Rights from the Pierre Mendès France University in Grenoble, and Education Sciences from the University of Lyon 2). She has worked in the field since 1995 in Bosnia, Kenya and Nigeria, among other places. She spent more than 15 years researching gender-based violence before holding several positions such as Project Coordinator, Research Coordinator and Project Manager. She has also taught courses as part of a master's programme at the University of Geneva and consulted for international organisations. After working on consent and the issue of sexual harassment and abuse, she has been directing UREPH since 2018.
Thierry Allafort-Duverger has been involved in humanitarian medical work for over thirty-five years. He was head of emergency operations and then director general of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) France, and is co-founder and former president of the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA). Throughout his career, he has played a central role in humanitarian responses to armed conflicts, natural disasters and major epidemics, with a particular commitment to improving operational practices. He has also been involved in strengthening humanitarian organisations, working on various issues such as team safety, combating abuse and discrimination, improving governance, and promoting more inclusive and equitable policies. He actively participates in reflection and knowledge transfer, collaborating in particular with MSF, ALIMA and the University of Manchester (HCRI).
Mélanie Chalandon is the producer of Cultures Monde, which she presents on Fridays. She has been working at France Culture for around fifteen years.
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