A8

By kwenzler | Published May 21, 2019

Throughout this course, we have been exposed to different readings which have enlightened us students to the reality of the humanitarian aid sector. For this post “Crisis Caravan” by Linda Poleman will be evaluated. Poleman’s writing relates to our class discussion in which we assess the actuality of humanitarian work being political versus apolitical. This also can transcend into a conversation about the role of the military and the effects the military plays among these sectors. In the chapter entitled “Afghaniscam” Poleman explains the small threshold that separates humanitarianism and war efforts according to civilians. She states that “people can no longer tell the difference between “real” neutral humanitarians and reconstruction groups disguised as humanitarians” (142). This results in violence against aidworkers based off of anger aimed at U.S. soldiers. The confusion stems from the false belief that humanitarian work is an “instrument of war” (143), leading to the confusion between humanitarian aid and war intervention.

As sociological students, we want to look further into such topics and see how the discrepancy between apolitical and political tactics are implemented and how these affect situations. As mentioned in class, we are able to discuss and question whether humanitarian work can ever be completely removed from politics. NGOs are said to have been a force multiplier in Afghanistan. To be a force multiplier means to be a part of a team to push a political agenda. Linda Poleman comments on this in “Crisis Caravan” when she focuses on George W Bush’s reaction directly after the attacks on 9/11. Ideally, George Bush describes that he expects NGOs to be a force multiplier along with the military and diplomats; making NGOs political. This helps pose the question: In what kinds of humanitarian responses can be apolitical? After such a tragedy to one’s home country, such as 9/11, it is difficult to revolt against the wishes the President has implemented to attempt to correct the situation at hand.

When evaluating whether or not humanitarian work can be apolitical we must decipher ideally what political versus a political work would look like. In a study entitled “Is Humanitarian Action Independent from Political Issues” by Jonathan Whittall, the legitimacy of humanitarian aid work is being questioned. Whittle uses Joseph Nye’s model for understanding global powers in order to enhance his argument and evaluate more in-depth the effects the Cold War has played upon the views of humanitarians. Below is a Ted Talk by Joseph Nye where he explains this in more detail.

 

https://www.ted.com/talks/joseph_nye_on_global_power_shifts/transcript?language=en

 

In shorter detail, Whittle uses Nye’s model when he states that “drawing on the notion of this three dimensional chess board, this analysis of the relationship between humanitarian aid and political power will refer to the three current power structures as: the unipolar or the Western uni-pole; the messy multi-polarity of (re)emerging powers; and the diffusion of power” (Whittle). Basically stating that even dating back to the cold war, western views and nationalism have affected the political factors of humanitarian aid work. Nye cleverly uses these three power structures to show how humanitarians can begin to gain back the legitimacy of once being less influenced by political powers. He makes this clear when he notices the problems associated with the sector claiming that “these steps… allow humanitarian actors to regain their legitimacy and face with integrity the push-back from those in power who see the delivery of assistance as impinging on their political and military strategies” (Whittle).

 

References

 

Nye, Joseph, director. Global Power Shifts . TED, www.ted.com/talks/joseph_nye_on_global_power_shifts/transcript?language=en.

 

Polman, Linda. The Crisis Caravan: What’s Wrong with Humanitarian Aid? Translated by Liz Waters, Metropolitan Books, 2010.

 

Whittall, Johnathan. Is Humanitarian Action Independent from Political Interests? – Sur – International Journal on Human Rights. 1 Sept. 2015, sur.conectas.org/en/is-humanitarian-action-independent-political-interests/.

 

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