Researchers identify several important functions of humanitarianism. In particular, one should speak about the containment of instability, compassion for individuals who experience suffering, and change of the inefficient social, political, or legal institutions (Donini 223). These aspects reflect the goals of various organizations that try to assist people who require urgent assistance. Overall, it is possible to say that compassion is the most prevalent function of humanitarianism. Currently, the efforts of non-governmental organizations are primarily aimed at assisting people who face hardships due to some reasons. For instance, one can speak about the efforts to support people who suffer from hunger caused by draughts or mismanagement of agricultural sector. Moreover, much attention should be paid to the support given to people who are affected by various natural disasters such as the outbreak of some epidemic. To a great extent, the Red Cross Movement exemplifies this type of humanitarianism. Nevertheless, these activities are also aimed at containing the crisis. For instance, it is possible to mention such a threat as the increased inflow of refugees to other countries. Moreover, one should not forget about the risk of violence that can threaten the very existence of the community. In turn, such a function as change is the least prevalent one. Admittedly, there are efforts to change the practices of local policy-makers. For example, non-governmental agencies can prompt local government to change the laws regarding the status of women or children in the country. Nevertheless, such changes are usually very time-consuming, and the efforts of humanitarian organizations are not always effective. This argument is particularly relevant if one speaks about the authoritarian governments of various African countries. Very often, the representatives of these states are now willing to abolish practices that hinder the development of the society. These are some of the main points that can be made. Nevertheless, it is also important to speak about the so-called “meta functions” of humanitarianism. This term is used to denote the goals that are not declared at the official level (Donini 226). For instance, one can speak about the promotion of Western ideology. In particular, it is possible to mention the spread of political institutions and governmental practices. This is one of the effects that should not be overlooked. Additionally, one should keep in mind that humanitarianism increase the safety of a country for investors. In particular, it is possible to refer to the gold-rush that could be observed in Afghanistan after the intervention led by the United States (Donini 229). This example illustrates the meso functions of humanitarianism. Additionally, humanitarianism can attract many people who want to start their careers. At the micro level, these considerations can affect the decisions of some medical workers as well as engineers. These examples indicate that humanitarian efforts may not always be successful because such activities serve the interest of groups that are not necessarily concerned about the well-being of people who experience hardship