SECWAC Presents: Julia Irwin on “Catastrophic Diplomacy: US Foreign Disaster Assistance in the American Century”

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Catastrophic Diplomacy: US Foreign Disaster Assistance in the American Century

In Catastrophic Diplomacy, historian Julia F. Irwin offers a sweeping account of how the United States came to use foreign disaster assistance as a key instrument of diplomacy throughout the twentieth century. Spanning from the early 1900s to the mid-1970s, the book examines how the U.S. government, military, and voluntary organizations responded to major international catastrophes—including earthquakes, tropical storms, and floods—and how these efforts shaped the broader landscape of American foreign relations. By weaving together diplomatic, military, environmental, and humanitarian histories, Irwin reveals the complex politics behind emergency aid and situates U.S. responses within a larger global context. Her work demonstrates the central, and often overlooked, role that disaster relief played in advancing American influence abroad.

🌍Who: Julia Irwin, Author, Professor of History Louisiana State University

🌍When: Monday October 6, 2025 | 5:30pm reception | 6:00pm Presentation 

🌍Where: First Congregational Church of Old Lyme

🌍 Learn more about SECWAC and this presentation here: https://secwac.org/event/secwac-presents-julia-irwin-on-catastrophic-diplomacy-us-foreign-disaster-assistance-in-the-american-century/?preview_id=2294&preview_nonce=eb3aec8ba1&_thumbnail_id=-1&preview=true