Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Seminar

Fighting and Helping? Domestic Politics and NGO-Military Relationships in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

Open to the Public

During complex humanitarian emergencies—crises with total or considerable breakdown of authority resulting from internal or external conflict that lead to a significant international response—the relations between humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (NGO)s and military organizations vary widely, ranging from hostility to cooperation. In some cases, NGOs and military organizations define forms of coordination to avoid duplication—they cooperate and even launch projects together. In others, however, they refuse to cooperate and even engage in vigorous and public mutual recrimination. Why? This seminar will explore empirically the challenges of these disputed boundaries and the ways in which humanitarian NGOs and military organizations face them in their areas of operation during the course of their missions.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.

Date: Time: - Location: Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369
French UN peacekeepers listen to a street vendor as he displays a UNIFIL T-shirt near the French troops' base in the southern village of Borj Qalaway, Lebanon, Sep. 21, 2006.

About

During complex humanitarian emergencies—crises with total or considerable breakdown of authority resulting from internal or external conflict that lead to a significant international response—the relations between humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (NGO)s and military organizations vary widely, ranging from hostility to cooperation. In some cases, NGOs and military organizations define forms of coordination to avoid duplication—they cooperate and even launch projects together. In others, however, they refuse to cooperate and even engage in vigorous and public mutual recrimination. Why? This seminar will explore empirically the challenges of these disputed boundaries and the ways in which humanitarian NGOs and military organizations face them in their areas of operation during the course of their missions. Conventional wisdom contends that NGO-military relationships are shaped by broad identity differences and by the characteristics of the mission, particularly its ends and means. This research complements this view by arguing that domestic politics influence the propensity of NGOs and the military of the same country to cooperate. Empirically, the speaker tests this argument on two case studies: the French and Italian armies' relations with French and Italian NGOs during the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) II mission in Lebanon.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.