Development and Humanitarianism: Practical Issues
Humanitarian intervention invariably rubs shoulders with politics, albeit awkwardly and sometimes even with tragic results. Tensions between them take many forms, ranging from different assessments of the extent or even the existence of a crisis to claims that humanitarian assistance is not saving innocent lives but sustaining politico-military forces, or to the conclusion that the constraints upon them compel aid agencies to withdraw from the area of operation completely - whether to ensure the safety of their own staff or because they believe that their integrity is unacceptably compromised by staying.
Development and Humanitarianism addresses these and other dilemmas that aid agencies face in interpreting the principles of humanitarianism in contexts where they risk being manipulated by political agendas. The contributors have extensive experience as frontline aid workers, agency policy makers, academics and researchers, and professional consultants around the world. Like every book in the Development in Practice Readers series, Development and Humanitarianism draws on the contents of the acclaimed international journal, Development in Practice and includes an annotated resource list of recent publications, relevant journals, organizations and websites presenting a cutting-edge guide to thinking and action.
CONTENTS
Preface: Deborah Eade
Introduction: Humanitarian trends and dilemmas, Tony Vaux
1. The Politics of Violence: Humanitarian Responses
The politics of emergency and the demise of the developing state: problems for humanitarian advocacy
Vanessa Pupavac
Post-war aid: patterns and purposes
Astri Suhrke and Julia Buckmaster
Humanitarianism and politics: the dangers of contrived separation
Volker Schimmel
2. Helping People Protect Themselves?
Who really protects civilians?
Andrew Bonwick
Colombian peace communities: the role of NGOs in supporting community resistance to violence and oppression
Gretchen Alther
Women and war: protection through empowerment in El Salvador
Martha Thompson and Deborah Eade
3. Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Examples of Humanitarian Practice
Everyday practices of humanitarian aid: tsunami response in Sri Lanka
Udan Fernando and Dorothea Hilhorst
Aid partnership in the Bougainville conflict: the case of Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency and its donors
Jonathan Makuwira
Art and disarmament: turning arms into ploughshares in Mozambique
Frank James Tester
Mission impossible: gender, conflict, and Oxfam GB
Suzanne Williams
4. Reviews and Resources
Women, gender, and conflict: making the connections
Martha Thompson
Selected resources on contemporary issues in humanitarianism
Deborah Eade
Contributors
Index
© Kumarian Press Inc. 2007.
ISBN 978 1 56549 239 4
All rights reserved.
Available from Stylus Publishing
