| CODE | IRL2063 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to Humanitarian Action | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | International Relations | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The human toll taken by conflict in places such as Ethiopia, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen; earthquakes, hurricanes and floods in Mozambique, Philippines, Pakistan and elsewhere – all are examples of manmade and natural disasters facing the most vulnerable people globally. How is the humanitarian response to emergencies such as these fashioned? Who are the main actors and how can their actions be understood? What is the interplay between humanitarian, military and political considerations? What are the main issues and problems with humanitarian aid in today’s world? “Introduction to Humanitarian Action” aims to give students a holistic understanding of the global humanitarian system, including its political and normative underpinnings. It critically and theoretically analyses global humanitarian responses and policies of key actors, including states, intergovernmental institutions, and NGOs. It includes case studies of major humanitarian disasters and the international response in their wake, such as Afghanistan, Somalia and Rwanda. Anchoring humanitarian action historically, the study unit discusses the power dynamics underlying humanitarian aid and the interests shaping it. It analyses why disaster response often falls short of the needs and how different actors try to shape the way humanitarian aid is delivered. This unit is unique in that it is given by most NOHA (Network on Humanitarian Action) universities across Europe (see www.nohanet.org/ for more information), including the University of Malta, which is a NOHA member since 2014. Study-unit Aims: The unit aims to provide students with the competences to critically analyse contemporary humanitarian action in its historical context and taking into account its complexity. It aims to give the students a thorough understanding of what shapes current humanitarianism, including historical legacies, international politics, and normative frameworks. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the origins and history of organized humanitarian action; - Discuss some of the turning points of humanitarian action from a historical perspective; - Depict and analyse the international humanitarian system in some detail; - Grasp the concepts and forces governing the humanitarian field; - Appreciate the structural, political and practical constraints and dilemmas of humanitarian action; and critically analyse humanitarian action in context; - Discuss selected case studies competently. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss the main aspects of the global politics of humanitarian action; - Write in a nuanced and informed manner about humanitarian action-related issues; - Present orally in front of an audience of peers on humanitarian action-related isses. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main textbook: - Maxwell, Daniel and Kirsten Heidi Gelsdorf (2019). Understanding the Humanitarian World Routledge. Other compulsory readings: - Barnett, M. (2011). Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism, chapter 9, “Rwanda” subsection pp.180-185 - Donini, A. (2020). " Decolonization". In Humanitarianism. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. - Donini, Antonio (2010). “The Far Side: The Meta-Functions of Humanitarianism in a Globalized World” Disasters 34:2, pp.220-237. - Goodhand, J. (2002) Aiding violence or building peace? The role of international aid in Afghanistan, Third World Quarterly, 23:5, 837-859. - Haider, H. (2013). International legal frameworks for humanitarian action: Topic guide. Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of Birmingham. - Hobson, J. M. (2017). “Eurocentric Pitfalls and Paradoxes of International Paternalism: Decolonizing Liberal Humanitarianism 2.0” in Barnett M. N. (Ed.) Paternalism Beyond Borders Cambridge University Press, 99-131 Khakee, A. (2018). "Humanitarian Action in International Relations: Power and Politics" International Humanitarian Action: NOHA Textbook Springer. - Menkhaus K. (2010) “Stabilisation and humanitarian access in a collapsed state: the Somali case” Disasters Volume 34, Issue s3 Pages S320–S341. - Paulmann, J. (2015) “Humanitarianism and Empire” in MacKenzie, John (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Empire Oxford University Press. - Terry, F. 2002. Chapter 5. ―The Rwandan Refugee Camps in Zaire. in Condemned to Repeat? The Paradox of Humanitarian Action. Ithaca, Cornell University Press. - Walling, C. B. (2015) "Human Rights Norms, State Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention." Hum. Rts. Q. 37: 383. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Yasmin Anna Gunilla Khakee |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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