Is Humanitarian Action Independent from Political Interests?

Abstract

International humanitarian action should be about saving lives and alleviating suffering. This paper considers the impact that political influence has on humanitarianism and how this has polluted its work. The author examines the history of this influence since the Cold War until the 2007 financial crisis, noting its constant entanglement with Western political interests. Rarely seen in its pure altruistic form, this paper discusses the conflicts that arise from incorporating humanitarian aid into the wider political goals of state building, for example. Consequently, humanitarian NGOs face a crisis of legitimacy. In addition, the author asks whether humanitarian action will retreat with Western power or be left exposed. With emerging powers playing an increasingly important role on a “three dimensional chessboard,” he concludes with key suggestions for the sector to regain its legitimacy and not to repeat the mistakes of the past.