The Politics of Impartiality: The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in the Soviet Union, 1946–7

Abstract

Officials from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) were among the world’s first international civil servants charged with impartially implementing a humanitarian assistance programme in a contentious political environment. Using the underexploited papers of Richard Scandrett and Marshall MacDuffie, this article explores the story of UNRRA in the Soviet Union and assesses its significance in forging an ethos of international public service and humanitarianism in the United Nations system. I argue that this animating spirit has its roots in the first-hand exposure of UNRRA personnel to the destruction wrought by the war, and in the personal rapport UNRRA officials established with their Soviet counterparts. Meanwhile, a strong reaction against multilaterally administered relief arose in the USA, forcing the organization to vigorously defend its performance. In response, UNRRA staff rejected the politicization of relief and became more committed to the broader goal of strengthening international institutions in order to address global problems. UNRRA staff concluded that the impartiality of international relief work should be protected as a vital asset in alleviating human suffering. As today’s humanitarian workers face an increasing threat of violence in places like Afghanistan and Sudan, the lessons on UNRRA’s experience are worth remembering.