Humanitarianism and Politics

Questions: 1.) Summarise Mukhopadhyay's statements about the shift of the humanitarian discourse: As a consequence of this shift, which changes and challenges have evolved for the aid-receivers and aid-providers (humanitarian aid context)? 2.) In your opinion, can and should (humanitarian) aid be separated from politics? Provide critical arguments, where relevant with reference to specific theories/authors that support your position. Answers: 1. Summarization of Mukhopadhyays statement According to Mukhopadhaya, the humanitarian discourse has taken a leap over the years. The humanitarianism has arrived into global and political scenario as the world around us has significantly changed. In the context of humanitarian, the person that need aid service and the provider of aid service has politicized the activities of humanitarian (Duffied et al. 2001). Therefore, humanitarianism has been refined by the political invested interest. On the other hand, the organization decides which people should be provided aid and they work on the assumption that all requirements of the people can be fulfilled by universal solution (Piedagnel, 2002). The humanitarian aid has been shifted due to engagement of governments and supply of basic humanitarian need has been affected. The humanitarianism shift has delivered significant changes in the aid receivable and aid delivered. The shift has benefited in the way of promoting human right and battle social injustice to provide better right to people. On the other hand, new humanitarianism is effective in developing social inclusion and advocacy for the aid receivers (Ife, 2007). Therefore, it can empower the aid receiver to have an ownership right on their community. Further, the aid receivers can as a witness for the people that are suffering by employing themselves in advocacy on behalf of the people suffering. Apart from that, the humanitarianism shift also include negative points such as, it can march to big countries over the small nation by using the strategy of humanitarian aid and human right promotion (Fox, 2001). Therefore, it can increase the suffering of the people as humanitarianism can be politically stimulated by the aid providers self interest. Therefore, it can lead to chaos and violence. 2. Opinion regarding humanitarian aid According to me humanitarian aid has to be segmented from politics and further it should be neutral, impartial and independent. I think that the changing environment of humanitarianism, the aid receiver and aid providers task has become tough. Moreover, the government is employing the humanitarian aid for the purpose of military conflicts or gain so that crisis, if arises, can be met (Verdirarne et al. 2005). On the other hand, the humanitarian workers are being attacked which shows that they are not able to follow neutral work as they used to. Apart from that is can be also argued that, humanitarian aid donor also fulfill their own interest first (Duffied et al. 2001. Therefore, from my point of view, the humanitarian activities has to be first for the receiver and then for the provider. Moreover, if humanitarian aid is bounded by political then right justice may not be provided to the aid receiver and they may need to suffer. The government can be using the humanitarian aid to sati sfy their own interest primarily and the interest of the people can be sidelined (Piedagnel, 2002). Apart from that, the politics on humanitarian aid can result in conflict and it can increase the trafficking of drug that can increase the price of drug and on the other hand, people may not be able to receive drug on time. References Duffied, M., Macrae, J., Curtis, D. (2001) Politics and Humanitarian Aid, USA, Blackwell Publishers Ife, J. (2007). The new international agendas: what role for social work?.Modified version of the Inaugural Hokenstad International Social Work Lecture. San Francisco: Council for Social Work Education. Piedagnel, J.M. (2002) Separating Humanitarian aid from politics, Vol. 324 retrieved from www.jstor.org.ezproxy.cdu.edu.au/stable Verdirarne, G. and Barbara H. B. (2005). Rights in Exile: Janus-faced humanitarianism. New York: Berghalm Books.