The far side: the meta functions of humanitarianism in a globalised world.
This paper explores the meta functions of humanitarianism--that is, the functions that, as an ideology, a movement and a profession, it performs, wittingly or unwittingly, in the early twenty-first century. The term humanitarianism is used as shorthand to encompass a complex set of currents of thought, actions and institutions of which the boundaries are unclear. The focus is on mainstream humanitarianism, the dominant Northern/Western enterprise. The paper first discusses the relationship between humanitarianism and globalised power. It goes on to examine three types of functions that humanitarianism and humanitarian action perform: 'macro' functions--the deep undercurrents, power relations and values that humanitarianism articulates and transmits; 'meso' functions--those that relate to the political economy of humanitarian action and to the mechanics (rather than to the ideology) of globalisation; and 'micro' functions that relate to the motivations of the individuals who devote their energies to humanitarianism.
Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, USA. antonio.donini@tufts.edu
Antonio
A
Donini
D000533:Altruism; D030861:Capitalism; D018595:Colonialism; D004189:Disaster Planning; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009042:Motivation; D009938:Organizations; D010684:Philosophy; D011057:Politics; D012066:Relief Work; D018635:Rescue Work