Humanitarianisms in context: histories of non-state actors, from the local to the global

Workshop 3 of the 'Non-state humanitarianism: from colonialism to human rights' network

The 'Humanitarianisms in Context' workshop will draw on case studies of non-state actors that owe their origins to particular local conditions, but which speak the language of international humanitarianism. It is particularly interested in examples that tackle new archives of non-state organisations or use particular actors as case studies in an historical context for the first time, and in ways that speak to broader thematic agendas. By bringing these various case studies into dialogue with each other, 'Humanitarianisms in Context' draws attention to the contexts and traditions in which ideas of non-state humanitarianism have been articulated, and how these interact with international, imperial and globalising vocabularies of humanitarianism. Equally important are the shifting dynamics of humanitarian action: between local, national and international contexts.

These objectives lead us to a number of important sub-themes that are key to understanding 'Humanitarianisms in Context'. Our discussion of the relationships between local, national, and international discourses of humanitarianism necessitates an interrogation of how those interactions were played out in the shift from imperial to post-colonial worlds, in the dialogue between religious and secular traditions, and between non-state actors and their donor publics. An emphasis on non-state humanitarianism also leads us to examine how languages of humanitarianism intersect with different traditions of statehood and the shifting roles of the nation-state, from empire and state-building to the transformative processes of decolonisation, de-regulation and globalisation.

Finally, 'Humanitarianisms in Context' also has a significant practical dimension. Building on the success of the 'Non-state Humanitarianism: From Colonialism to Human Rights' international research network to date, it will continue to bring emerging strands of humanitarian history into dialogue with the needs of the humanitarian sector. The spirit of co-production and collaboration pursued in that context - between academic partners and representatives of the Overseas Development Institute, Christian Aid and Save the Children, among others - will allow a greater historical awareness of traditions of humanitarianism and humanitarian context to play an important role in shaping contemporary decision-making.
 

Program (pdf)