A Fraught Embrace – The Romance and Reality of AIDS Altruism in Africa: Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology

"Using a detailed study of the actions and reactions regarding AIDS in Malawi, this fantastic book describes essential features of the current system for delivering humanitarian assistance. Swidler and Watkins look at the role of brokers who connect international donors with beneficiaries, examine the altruists who operate within a moral universe that leads them to be out of touch, and offer a compelling takedown of common humanitarian cultural practices and notions of sustainability."--Lant Pritchett, Harvard Kennedy School

"A Fraught Embrace analyzes the organizational dynamics of the response to HIV/AIDS in Africa, focusing on the efforts of international and local groups to balance the fantasies of donors with the real needs of communities. Highlighting prevention campaigns in Malawi, the authors characterize organizational responses as erratic and uneven. This accessible and at times humorous book is essential reading for sociologists interested in the global AIDS industry."--Claire Decoteau, University of Illinois at Chicago