Defensive Humanitarianism

Humanitarianism Transformed

The scale, scope, and significance of humanitarian action have expanded significantly since the late 1980s. This article reflects on two ways in which humanitarianism has been transformed. First, its purpose has been politicized. Whereas once humanitarian actors attempted to insulate themselves from the world of politics, they now work closely with states and attempt to eliminate the root cause...

Crisis in humanitarianism?

H umanitarian crises carry massive human costs. Media exposure may lead to increased advocacy and awareness and strengthen the response of the international community. However, when this does not occur, indifference or neglect may result. Our perceptions of and reactions to large scale human suffering are complex and biased. A deeper analysis of them may allow us to correct flaws in political p...

Humanitarianism and Unequal Exchange

This article examines the relationship between humanitarian aid and ecologically unequal exchange in the context of post-disaster reconstruction. I assess the manner in which humanitarian aid became a central part of the reconstruction process in India's Tamil Nadu state following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This article focuses on how the humanitarian “gift” of housing became a ...

Digital Humanitarianism: Collective Intelligence Emerging

session on digital humanitarianism, with a keynote given by Paul Conneally from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), offered a vision of a future where huge amounts of data can be collected, analyzed, and used to facilitate the delivery of relief and development aid and information in some of the most challenging settings on earth. The talk acknowledged there are obstacles to be ove...

Exposing poverty and inspiring medical humanitarianism.