TheTroublewithHumanitarianism

Author(s):RobertoBelloni
Source:ReviewofInternationalStudies,Vol.33,No.3(Jul.,2007),pp.451
474

Humanitarianism -

Alternative to Westphalian approach (legitimate governments recognised by states, control

own territory, application of juridical norms, resolution of controversies - decentralised, left
to individual states). Intl law - peaceful coexistence.

Humanitarianism - looks at individuals, groups.

ICRC - help victim independently of political constraint, neutrality.

First half of 20th century - Hague Conferences 1899, 1907, League of Nations, Permanent
Court of Justice, 1919, 1928 Kellog-Briand Pact, UN - 1945.

Aftermath of WW2 - humanitarianism has new momentum. 1948 - UDHR.

Ignatieff.

1970s - transformation of humanitarianism.

Biafra crisis. ICRC - neutral impartial, somewhat inadequate?

MSF - enters into fray, enters contentious terrain of politics. Humanitarian ideal beond
ICRCs prerogatives. States, UN system, NGOS, media al enter into humanitarianism.

Challenges non-interference/neutrality/impartiality/independence.

Have to explain why not intervening.

Negative effects of humanitarianism (aid - Fiona Terry,Mary Anderson)
Problems of framing human emancipation in HR terms (David Kennedy, David Rieff)
Humanitarianism - moral cover for power (Chomsky, David Chandler)

Problems

Humanitarianism simplifies too much.

Hapless victim - villain - knighted Western/intl agency, journalist, leader.

Not necessarily racist, but reinforces the problem. West realm of reason and tolerance,
removes inhibition on use of force.

Media - supports this. Synecdoche - find the dramatic example that exmplifies
(inaccurately) the whole.

Avoid considering reasons for suffering.

Mutually supportive - pornography of suffering, nuanced views leave public aloof.

Humanitarianism misinterprets reality and delays effective intervention.

Doesnt look at the underlying factors - e.g. 50 year battle for fertile farming land in Darfur
ignored in favour of ethno-religious strife.

Crises dont suddenly break out.

Tough for humanitarianism to make its voice heard when most needed:
Are things really that hard to predict? Similar in Yugoslavia.

A good, modest, intervention early would have resolved these issues -

Rhetoric of humanitarianism empty when if comes to it?

Most humanitarians - dont want to think in terms of long-term political dynamics?

Abstain from political analysis - allows possibility of moral high ground, hold others
responsible for failures. Speak truth to power, but free from responsibilities of exercising it.

Negative consequences of coercion

Humanitarianism induces minorities to raise the level of violence.

Prospect of international military intervention for humanitarian purposes can increase

internal violence.

Minorities, victims strategise - confront enemies to gain international support. Only way to
get support is to show themselves as victims of aggression.

Bosnian Muslims?

Ksovo Albanians?
Humanitarianism prolongs war and misery

Incentives to prolong fighting.

Saadia Touval -
the

Illusion of safety - safe zones among displaced persons - partial, stopgap solutions to
problems.

Avoid taking dramatic and costly steps.

Humanitarianism not altruistic.

Allows West to legitimately involve itself in foreign crises.

Yugoslavia Europe - encourage (dubious) safe return as soon as possible.

E.g. UNRWA - 700,000 -> 4,186,711 under its work. Done much to help Palestinians, but
nothing t end their displacement.

Funding humanitarianism - allows governments to stand by, avoid getting really involved in
the issue.

Humanitarianism - substitute for development?

Development not effective, so go for short-term apporach instead - tyranny of the
emergency.

Unhelpful/unequal distribution of aid.

Humanitarianism culture dysfunctioanl.

NGOs - narrow society, often slow. Contingent on government assistance - financial ties,

Need to secure funding - amp up crises.

Huge misuse of funds - hard to pull out because lose market share, credibility.

Internal pressures on NGOs - Western-dminated. Recently - increased professionalisation?

But actually limits creativity, limits issues/approaches. Avoid politics.

Reinforces predominance of local warlike elites.

Warlords appropriate humanitarian aid - direct it to supporters, require it in negotiaitons,
legitimate human rights-violating regime, aid agencies replace state - assuage potential
challenges to leadership.

Dont really support local grassroots organisations.

Humanitarianism reproduces cleavages meant to overcome. Ethnic identities conflictual,

requires separation -

Seen as natural by NATO.

Adversarial conception of human rights.

More important

- Foc
us on prevention - diffcult to address, dog that does not back hardly attracts attention -
but can be observed.

- Ch
ange Western practice.

- Begin with human rights at home.