Humanitarianism And The Quantification Of Human Needs

Author : Joël Glasman
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 259 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2020-01-06
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9781000762594

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Humanitarianism and the Quantification of Human Needs by Joël Glasman Pdf

This book provides a historical inquiry into the quantification of needs in humanitarian assistance. Needs are increasingly seen as the lowest common denominator of humanity. Standard definitions of basic needs, however, set a minimalist version of humanity – both in the sense that they are narrow in what they compare, and that they set a low bar for satisfaction. The book argues that we cannot understand humanitarian governance if we do not understand how humanitarian agencies made human suffering commensurable across borders in the first place. The book identifies four basic elements of needs: As a concept, as a system of classification and triage, as a material apparatus, and as a set of standards. Drawing on a range of archival sources, including the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), and the Sphere Project, the book traces the concept of needs from its emergence in the 1960s right through to the present day, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for “evidence-based humanitarianism.” Finally, the book assesses how the international governmentality of needs has played out in a recent humanitarian crisis, drawing on field research on Central African refugees in the Cameroonian borderland in 2014–2016. This important historical inquiry into the universal nature of human suffering will be an important read for humanitarian researchers and practitioners, as well as readers with an interest in international history and development.

Author : Joël Glasman
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 275 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2019-12-06
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781000762235

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Humanitarianism and the Quantification of Human Needs by Joël Glasman Pdf

This book provides a historical inquiry into the quantification of needs in humanitarian assistance. Needs are increasingly seen as the lowest common denominator of humanity. Standard definitions of basic needs, however, set a minimalist version of humanity – both in the sense that they are narrow in what they compare, and that they set a low bar for satisfaction. The book argues that we cannot understand humanitarian governance if we do not understand how humanitarian agencies made human suffering commensurable across borders in the first place. The book identifies four basic elements of needs: As a concept, as a system of classification and triage, as a material apparatus, and as a set of standards. Drawing on a range of archival sources, including the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), and the Sphere Project, the book traces the concept of needs from its emergence in the 1960s right through to the present day, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for “evidence-based humanitarianism.” Finally, the book assesses how the international governmentality of needs has played out in a recent humanitarian crisis, drawing on field research on Central African refugees in the Cameroonian borderland in 2014–2016. This important historical inquiry into the universal nature of human suffering will be an important read for humanitarian researchers and practitioners, as well as readers with an interest in international history and development. The Introduction, Conclusion, and Chapers 1, 4, 5, and 6 of this book are freely available as downloadable Open Access PDFs at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Author : Sally Engle Merry
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
Page : 260 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2016-06-10
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780226261317

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The Seductions of Quantification by Sally Engle Merry Pdf

We live in a world where seemingly everything can be measured. We rely on indicators to translate social phenomena into simple, quantified terms, which in turn can be used to guide individuals, organizations, and governments in establishing policy. Yet counting things requires finding a way to make them comparable. And in the process of translating the confusion of social life into neat categories, we inevitably strip it of context and meaning—and risk hiding or distorting as much as we reveal. With The Seductions of Quantification, leading legal anthropologist Sally Engle Merry investigates the techniques by which information is gathered and analyzed in the production of global indicators on human rights, gender violence, and sex trafficking. Although such numbers convey an aura of objective truth and scientific validity, Merry argues persuasively that measurement systems constitute a form of power by incorporating theories about social change in their design but rarely explicitly acknowledging them. For instance, the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report, which ranks countries in terms of their compliance with antitrafficking activities, assumes that prosecuting traffickers as criminals is an effective corrective strategy—overlooking cultures where women and children are frequently sold by their own families. As Merry shows, indicators are indeed seductive in their promise of providing concrete knowledge about how the world works, but they are implemented most successfully when paired with context-rich qualitative accounts grounded in local knowledge.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : BRILL
Page : 262 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2020-09-07
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9789004431140

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Humanitarianism: Keywords by Anonim Pdf

Humanitarianism: Keywords is a comprehensive dictionary designed as a compass for navigating the conceptual universe of humanitarianism. It is an intuitive toolkit to map contemporary humanitarianism and to explore its current and future articulations. The dictionary serves a broad readership of practitioners, students, and researchers by providing informed access to the extensive humanitarian vocabulary.

Author : Patrick Meier
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
Page : 161 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2015-01-06
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781040083802

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Digital Humanitarians by Patrick Meier Pdf

The overflow of information generated during disasters can be as paralyzing to humanitarian response as the lack of information. This flash flood of information‘social media, satellite imagery and more is often referred to as Big Data. Making sense of this data deluge during disasters is proving an impossible challenge for traditional humanitarian

Author : R. Tomasini,L. Van Wassenhove,Luk Van Wassenhove
Publisher : Springer
Page : 178 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2009-02-19
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780230233485

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Humanitarian Logistics by R. Tomasini,L. Van Wassenhove,Luk Van Wassenhove Pdf

Imagine planning an event like the Olympics. Now imagine planning the same event but not knowing when or where it will take place, or how many will attend. This is what humanitarian logisticians are up against. Oversights result in serious consequences for the victims of disasters. So they have to get it right, fast.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : UNICEF
Page : 60 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2010-05
Category : Education
ISBN : 9789280645125

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Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action by Anonim Pdf

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9291399051

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Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response by Anonim Pdf

Author : David Keen
Publisher : Polity
Page : 305 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2008-01-22
Category : History
ISBN : 9780745640198

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Complex Emergencies by David Keen Pdf

Analysing the abusive systems that surround and produce humanitarian disasters, this text gives particular attention to the economic, political and psychological functions of civil conflicts and humanitarian disasters.

Author : David Beer
Publisher : Springer
Page : 223 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2016-07-30
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781137556493

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Metric Power by David Beer Pdf

This book examines the powerful and intensifying role that metrics play in ordering and shaping our everyday lives. Focusing upon the interconnections between measurement, circulation and possibility, the author explores the interwoven relations between power and metrics. He draws upon a wide-range of interdisciplinary resources to place these metrics within their broader historical, political and social contexts. More specifically, he illuminates the various ways that metrics implicate our lives – from our work, to our consumption and our leisure, through to our bodily routines and the financial and organisational structures that surround us. Unravelling the power dynamics that underpin and reside within the so-called big data revolution, he develops the central concept of Metric Power along with a set of conceptual resources for thinking critically about the powerful role played by metrics in the social world today.

Author : Claire Magone,Michael Neuman,Fabrice Weissman
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2012-02-28
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781849045254

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Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed by Claire Magone,Michael Neuman,Fabrice Weissman Pdf

From international NGOs to UN agencies, from donors to observers of humanitarianism, opinion is unanimous: in a context of the alleged "clash of civilizations", our "humanitarian space" is shrinking. Put another way, the freedom of action and of speech of humanitarians is being eroded due to the radicalisation of conflicts and the reaffirmation of state sovereignty over aid actors and policies. The purpose of this book is to challenge this assumption through an analysis of the events that have marked MSF's history since 2003 (when MSF published its first general work on humanitarian action and its relationships with governments). It addresses the evolution of humanitarian goals, the resistance to these goals and the political arrangements that overcame this resistance (or that failed to do so). The contributors seek to analyse the political transactions and balances of power and interests that allow aid activities to move forward, but that are usually masked by the lofty rhetoric of "humanitarian principles". They focus on one key question: what is an acceptable compromise for MSF? This book seeks to puncture a number of the myths that have grown up over the forty years since MSF was founded and describes in detail how the ideals of humanitarian principles and "humanitarian space" operating in conflict zones are in reality illusory. How, in fact, it is the grubby negotiations with varying parties, each of whom have their own vested interests, that may allow organisations such as MSF to operate in a given crisis situation - or not.

Author : Global Humanitarian Forum
Publisher : Global Humanitarian Forum
Page : 136 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2009
Category : Climatic changes
ISBN : 9782839905534

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The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis by Global Humanitarian Forum Pdf

Author : Jana Sillmann,Sebastian Sippel,Simone Russo
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 378 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2019-11
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9780128148952

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Climate Extremes and Their Implications for Impact and Risk Assessment by Jana Sillmann,Sebastian Sippel,Simone Russo Pdf

Climate extremes often imply significant impacts on human and natural systems, and these extreme events are anticipated to be among the potentially most harmful consequences of a changing climate. However, while extreme event impacts are increasingly recognized, methodologies to address such impacts and the degree of our understanding and prediction capabilities vary widely among different sectors and disciplines. Moreover, traditional climate extreme indices and large-scale multi-model intercomparisons that are used for future projections of extreme events and associated impacts often fall short in capturing the full complexity of impact systems. Climate Extremes and Their Implications for Impact and Risk Assessment describes challenges, opportunities and methodologies for the analysis of the impacts of climate extremes across various sectors to support their impact and risk assessment. It thereby also facilitates cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary discussions and exchange among climate and impact scientists. The sectors covered include agriculture, terrestrial ecosystems, human health, transport, conflict, and more broadly covering the human-environment nexus. The book concludes with an outlook on the need for more transdisciplinary work and international collaboration between scientists and practitioners to address emergent risks and extreme events towards risk reduction and strengthened societal resilience. Provides an overview about past, present and future changes in climate and weather extremes and how to connect that knowledge to impact and risk assessment under global warming Presents different approaches to assess societal-relevant impacts and risk of climate and weather extremes, including compound events, and the complexity of risk cascades and the interconnectedness of societal risk Features applications across a diversity of sectors, including agriculture, health, ecosystem services and urban transport

Author : Kevin Davis,Angelina Fisher,Benedict Kingsbury,Sally Engle Merry
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 504 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 2012-07-05
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780199658244

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Governance by Indicators by Kevin Davis,Angelina Fisher,Benedict Kingsbury,Sally Engle Merry Pdf

Indicators and rankings are widely used by governments and organisations to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and success of policy decisions. This book evaluates the creation of indicators, their impact on policy decisions, and the implications of their use.

Author : Felix Rauschmayer,Ines Omann,Johannes Frühmann
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 192 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2012-07-26
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781136886768

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Sustainable Development by Felix Rauschmayer,Ines Omann,Johannes Frühmann Pdf

This groundbreaking new work establishes links between sustainable development, needs, well-being, and the capabilities approach that is central to human development and the United Nations Development Programme. By challenging the role of people in sustainability policy, this collection’s argument refocuses sustainable development on needs and makes it easier for people to relate positively to its core values. This exciting new book incites a whole new way of looking at sustainable development. Even though the word ‘needs’ is central to the most popular definition of sustainable development, the concepts of needs and capabilities remain within the debate on human development, without going further into intergenerational justice or environmental protection. The discussion of needs reaches non-academics in a more direct way than talking about abstract thresholds, substitutability and other issues dear to academic debate on sustainability. This collection links the questions of intra- and intergenerational justice with issues of quality of life, life courses, and well-being. Dealing with needs entails dealing with deeper layers of consciousness, revealing emotions and questioning habits and values. In this way, the collection presents an opportunity for substantial social change as well as a challenge for research and policy-making. This thought-provoking collection asks its readers to reconsider the role of needs based on the philosophical arguments presented, to understand how sustainability can become a part of the capability approach, to better consider the dependency of life chances on birth contingencies, and to see the relationship between capabilities, needs, and well-being in a different light. The editors finish by clarifying the possibilities and challenges of a needs-based sustainability policy for policy makers, and explain the role of deeply held values. This book should be of interest to postgraduates and researchers in Environmental and Ecological Economics, as well as many other disciplines including Political Economics, Social Ecology, Human Ecology, Sustainability Science and Developmental Politics.