Research Clothilde Facon

Abstract

The ability of humanitarian organisations to obtain space from political authorities for the performance of their function being directly linked to their power, the project seeks to come to a nuanced appreciation of how they seek to boost that power by using the tools of humanitarian diplomacy (HD). HD is 'the activity of specialised organisations to obtain space from political and military authorities for negotiations and the conscientious performance of their functions, based on the principles of independence, neutrality and fairness' (Minear and Smith 2007). It aims to broker space for the implementation of emergency response essentials such as negotiating for the presence of international humanitarian organisations (IHOs), brokering access to civilian populations, allowing for the provision of relief aid, promoting respect for international norms (Turunen 2022). HD stems from the concept of state diplomacy as 'the infrastructure of global governance' (Sending, Pouliot and Neuman 2015) while shedding light on the growing role of INGOs and non-state actors such as the Red Cross (Constantinou 2023), UN agencies and INGOs (Minear and Smith 2007).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kustermans Jorg
• Fellow: Facon Clothilde

Research team(s)

• International Politics

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to examine how states make use of humanitarian diplomacy to achieve a position of authority in the international community. The Marshall plan – a American program of aid, offered to European countries after the devastation of the Second World War, which contributed strongly to the legitimation of American power – constitutes a well-known early example. Grateful for the generous gift, the recipient countries endowed the United States with political authority in the form of international leadership. More recently, other states have developed a similar strategy, with Norway being a well-known example of a country investing heavily in humanitarian aid and reaping the benefit of above average moral authority in world politics. Other contemporary examples are China, with its Belt and Road Initiative being supported by significant humanitarian programs, and also a number of regional powers in the Islamic world that appear sometimes to be involved a humanitarian bidding competition.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Kustermans Jorg
• Co-promoter: Melissen Jan
• Fellow: Facon Clothilde

Research team(s)

• International Politics

Project type(s)

• Research Project