New research from the Kaldor Centre's Dr Thomas Mulder explores one of the most pressing questions facing the international community: if we take solidarity seriously, what do States owe one another when disasters strike?
When disasters strike, the question is not only how countries respond, but what they owe to each other when they do.
A new book explores these questions through the lens of solidarity, a concept often invoked in international cooperation but rarely clearly defined in law or practice.
Solidarity in International Disaster Response Law (Bloomsbury/Hart 2026), by Dr Thomas Mulder, examines how international law approaches cooperation in times of emergency, and where current frameworks fall short.
‘As disasters are predicted to become more severe and frequent due to climate change, I hope this book proves to be a timely lens for understanding how cooperation could be more effectively structured,’ says Dr Mulder, a Laureate Postdoctoral Fellow at the Kaldor Centre’s Evacuations Research Hub.
As the United Nations is negotiating the first-ever global treaty on disasters, Dr Mulder notes, ‘This is a unique opportunity to think carefully about how we can implement the idea of solidarity in law, policy and practice, guiding disaster response into a future of climate change.’
To mark the publication of the book, expert guests will join Dr Mulder for a launch event discussing critical questions about shared responsibility, mutual support and fairness in international disaster response.
David Fisher, Head of Delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Nepal, will join online, alongside Dr Dug Cubie of University College Cork, who is an expert in disaster law, humanitarian action and forced displacement.
The hybrid book launch at UNSW Law & Justice and online will take place on Tuesday 22 September, from 5–7pm AEST.
The event is free to join. Register here.
This live conversation offers a chance to explore key ideas in the book, such as what solidarity actually means and looks like in a global context. How does it differ from concepts such as cooperation, charity or humanitarianism? Is solidarity simply a moral aspiration, or is it emerging as a principle of international law?
And, critically, at a time of rising nationalism and geopolitical fragmentation, is global solidarity still possible?
Solidarity in International Disaster Response Law offers a framework for thinking about cooperation, responsibility and fairness across borders in times of emergency. Through the upcoming events, researchers, practitioners and policymakers will have an opportunity to examine whether solidarity can move beyond aspiration to become a meaningful guide for international action.
The book speaks directly to challenges increasingly encountered in the context of disaster displacement and evacuation. This research is part of broader work on international law, emergency management and global cooperation at UNSW’s Kaldor Centre and its Evacuations Research Hub.
Buy a copy of Solidarity in International Disaster Response Law (Bloomsbury/Hart 2026). Kaldor Centre subscribers receive a 35% discount when using the code GLR AT8.
Contact to request a briefing, author interview or discussion: Lauren Martin / Kaldor Centre Communications Lead / lauren.martin@unsw.edu.au / +61 407 393 070.
Visit the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law.
