The humanitarian sector is more broad than most of the population even deemed possible; including the imperative, the ecosystem, and the workers. We, as humans, are drawn towards the opportunities we are given in order to make a differences and to be considered a hero. However, we as sociologists, are able to see the faults in such actions. Before going further into this topic, it is important to answer the question of what exactly the humanitarian imperative is. Is the humanitarian imperative is doing good for the greater community? Is the humanitarian imperative temporary? Is the humanitarian simplistic in the grand scheme of things? The answer to all of these questions: no. In order to help define this we can look at the work of Teju Cole in “The White-Savior Industrial Complex”, when it is explained that “there is much more to doing good work than “making a difference.” There is the principle of first do no harm” (Cole, 2012). From this quote, one can learn that “making a difference” will not be resulted without the concerns and intentions of the people in the location of helping. Next, it is beneficial, to define who falls under the category of a humanitarian and follows the humanitarian imperative. Cole then goes onto explain that “ a nobody from America or Europe can go to Africa and become a godlike savior or, at the very least, have his or her emotional needs satisfied” (Cole, 2012). This then results in a shift from focus on the people in need to the satisfaction of the person helping; feeling accomplished and ultimately gaining that feeling of “making a difference”. The below video attached takes a comical approach on this idea, showing that these volunteers come into the place of help with little regard of the culture or history; ultimately adding to the complications associated with the humanitarian imperative.
The human imperative then moves into a larger topic of empathy and how or cultures have taught our views and actions associated with this emotion. From “Voluntourism in Amman”, one can learn that “we are social beings and we learn from each other -sometimes actively but most of the time unconsciously and passively- elements of culture and life-perspective. We “teach” our culture wherever we go and are at the same time we learn from the cultures we visit” (Arcaro, 2018). It is how was are socialized from a young age to have the desire to be the person influencing the world from watching our role model’s accomplishments. Our natural human empathy is then reflected within the humanitarian imperative.
However the largest fallacy that relates to the humanitarian imperative is the comparison between the humanitarian aid and humanitarian development (SOC371:2-11).. It is simple to fix a short term problem, than to change a long term and layered societal problem. When criticizing the humanitarian imperative it is helpful to refer to the common analogy: if you feed a homeless man a fish you feed him for one day; if you teach him how to fish, you have fed him for life. While we may think we are making a difference, this may only be temporary, without even the knowledge of the overlying problem causing such issues. Specifically for the people in the western world, humanitarianism and volunteerism specifically, have become an image for those completing in such service. Helping others in trouble has become a trend through social media, displaying the “life changing experience” one has indulged in. This is why volunteers are beginning to get a bad reputation as described in “Voluntourism in Ammen” that “‘voluntourists,’ those who come to Jordan, travel to the refugee camps, and treat the experience like an open-air human zoo” (Arcaro, 2018). It is from copious of these examples that “the humanitarian aid system is broken”, making it even more difficult to limit the definition of the humanitarian imperative down to one simple sentence (Gharib, 2017). The above quote is supported by Paul Spiegel, a former “a former senior official at the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees” in an interview in the complications of the humanitarian system and the problems associated with it (Gharib 2017). When explaining how the system in itself is broken Spiegel explains that “the humanitarian system was made for a simpler era, where conflicts and wars were shorter in nature and had an end. Its purpose was to bring much-needed money and care to people to address their immediate needs. The humanitarian system is based on premise that refugees are temporary. But the point is that refugees stay for a heck of a long time” (Spiegel, 2018).
In order to correct the humanitarian system and establish the humanitarian development, we must follow the “humanitarian principles — humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence — [which] are essential in humanitarian action. We need to make sure that everyone regardless of nationality, ethnic group and religion person receives assistance according to these principles” (Spiegel, 2018).
References
Arcaro, Tom. “Voluntourism in Amman?” Blogspot, blogs.elon.edu/aidworkervoices/?p=997.
Cole, Teju. “The White-Savior Industrial Complex.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 11 Jan. 2013, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/the-white-savior-industrial-complex/254843/
Gharib, Malaka. “Humanitarian Aid Is ‘Broken,’ Says Former U.N. Official.” NPR, NPR, 22 June 2017, www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/06/22/533639073/what-s-wrong-with-humanitarian-aid.
Norway, SAIH, director. Who Wants To Be A Volunteer? YouTube, YouTube, 7 Nov. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymcflrj_rRc.
6 Comments
After first skimming your post I felt as though you had focused on volunteerism instead of the humanitarian imperative. THANKFULLY I went back through and actually read your work, and I would now say that you focused on volunteerism AND the imperative- a relationship often overlooked. I think the point you made about when and how to properly help are so important, and I am so glad you took your argument in this direction. I definetly agree that we as global citizens need to be able to differentiate between humanitarianism and volunteerism or else the problems we are trying to fix will only get worse.
I love this video! Volunteers often have little or no understanding of the history, culture, or way of life of the places before they visit. It reinforces the stereotypes of the “white hero” and allows westerners to alleviate the guilt of their privilege. There’s a satirical Instagram you would like called the “Barbie Savior” which exemplifies the realities and pokes fun at voluntourism. It is definitely worth checking out.
The video is definitely comical and makes people think about how there are such things like voluntourism that are not benefitting the country in need. I think the voluntourism field is something that we take for granted, and use as a way to experience for ourselves, and forget that there is another side of the situation. Possibly these opportunities catch the attention of one person to come back to the states and actually get involved with the humanitarian aid sectors we have. It is definitely a difficult task but very necessary to remove our instinct to “make a difference”, because we cannot vouch if a difference has made, just because we have some higher power or simply the resources to give relief, does not mean that it has made a difference in the eyes of others or the natives.
I really liked the video that you added in your post, as I think it was a comical but realistic view of humanitarian aid. Sadly, it is very common nowadays for people to go on these volunteer trips for reasons like this, and not just to do good. I think it is important to think of how those that we are going to help view us, and making sure that we are truly making a difference and not doing any harm. This also all reminds me of the video that we watched in class about the starfish and knowing the limits of interfering with other cultures. I do think that many involved in humanitarian aid are driven by empathy, but I agree with your points that there is still a lot of corruption and lines that are crossed when it comes to offering aid.
First of all, the video is AMAZING! It captures the stereotypical global northerner volunteer perfectly and in a very funny way. I just about died when she said that Africa was one country, that is a massive disrespect to the beautiful diversity of cultures and people in the continent and reduces it to a monolithic group for the ease of people going there to “help”. The video also illustrates a point you make further down in your post about how often good intentions are valued more than true knowledge or understanding of an issue or culture. I think that you also did a great job elaborating on Cole’s quotes about how Western volunteers travel to places like Africa expecting to become fulfilled and white saviors when really, they are just tourists gawking at poverty. An important point that you brought up is the way that every person inherently carries their culture with them wherever they go and cannot separate themselves from it. Finally, the distinction between aid and development is a crucial one that we have discussed at great length in class; I would argue that part of the reason the voluntourism can be so damaging is the fact that it almost exclusively promotes the idea of humanitarian aid on the part of Westerners instead of focusing on development undertaken by the community itself.
I really liked the comparison you incorporated about voluntourism being like an “open-air human zoo.” It really connects to your video and emphasizes the idea that people offering aid will come into these vulnerable countries and impose their own practices and beliefs upon them. The idea of the zoo really struck me because many people offer aid and glance at these struggling people without really giving them long term solutions. Whenever I think of this, I think of people posting to their instagrams with indigenous children in order to “get likes” and make themselves look good. While I do believe that humanitarian aid is driven by a sense of empathy, ethnocentrism can seep in and effect the impact of the aid being given.