scholarly journals Fighting for the Moral Cause? State Motivations for Humanitarian Intervention

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alayna Sublette ◽  
Class of 2016

Why do states conduct humanitarian missions in certain states and not in others? This paper evaluates the motivations of states to intervene in other states under the guise of humanitarianism, with a focus on multilateral military operations. Further, the main factor that this paper addresses is the role that human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play in influencing states to intervene or not intervene, with an emphasis on NGO naming and shaming. By conducting a comparative case study between the civil conflicts in Kosovo and Rwanda, this paper tests the following hypothesis: the more comprehensive an NGO’s naming and shaming campaigns are in a particular state in regard to a humanitarian issue, the more likely an outside state will intervene in that target country. Although Kosovo and Rwanda both had naming and shaming, the difference lies in the amount and substance of the naming and shaming. This paper argues that Kosovo received more naming and shaming at a higher quality, while Rwanda received less naming and shaming at a lower quality. Further, this paper argues that these differences in naming and shaming contributed to the differing outcomes; Kosovo received substantial international attention, while Rwanda did not.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 165
Author(s):  
Francesco Bruno

This paper critically assesses and compares the successes and failures of Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) in negotiating access to humanitarian spaces in two case studies, namely Afghanistan and Iraq. The case studies have been selected due to the nature of the two wars, namely the link to the “War on Terror” declared by President George W. Bush in 2001. As a consequence, the selected cases highlight highly politicized and insecure environments for the NGOs to work in. In terms of successes, the NGOs became more flexible in their organizational structure while solving cases on a day-to-day basis negotiating access with local as well as international actors. However, the nature of the conflicts completely shuttered any opportunity to uphold the principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence. In terms of failures, the case studies point out one of the main and most recurrent dilemmas for the NGOs, namely the lack of legitimacy and independency. As a consequence, many international NGOs engaged in remote projects using local personnel in insecure and dangerous areas lacking tools for monitoring the progresses and successes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Robyn Gulliver ◽  
Kelly S. Fielding ◽  
Winnifred Louis

Climate change is a global problem requiring a collective response. Grassroots advocacy has been an important element in propelling this collective response, often through the mechanism of campaigns. However, it is not clear whether the climate change campaigns organized by the environmental advocacy groups are successful in achieving their goals, nor the degree to which other benefits may accrue to groups who run them. To investigate this further, we report a case study of the Australian climate change advocacy sector. Three methods were used to gather data to inform this case study: content analysis of climate change organizations’ websites, analysis of website text relating to campaign outcomes, and interviews with climate change campaigners. Findings demonstrate that climate change advocacy is diverse and achieving substantial successes such as the development of climate change-related legislation and divestment commitments from a range of organizations. The data also highlights additional benefits of campaigning such as gaining access to political power and increasing groups’ financial and volunteer resources. The successful outcomes of campaigns were influenced by the ability of groups to sustain strong personal support networks, use skills and resources available across the wider environmental advocacy network, and form consensus around shared strategic values. Communicating the successes of climate change advocacy could help mobilize collective action to address climate change. As such, this case study of the Australian climate change movement is relevant for both academics focusing on social movements and collective action and advocacy-focused practitioners, philanthropists, and non-governmental organizations.


Author(s):  
Hannah Smidt ◽  
Dominic Perera ◽  
Neil J. Mitchell ◽  
Kristin M. Bakke

Abstract International ‘naming and shaming’ campaigns rely on domestic civil society organizations (CSOs) for information on local human rights conditions. To stop this flow of information, some governments restrict CSOs, for example by limiting their access to funding. Do such restrictions reduce international naming and shaming campaigns that rely on information from domestic CSOs? This article argues that on the one hand, restrictions may reduce CSOs’ ability and motives to monitor local abuses. On the other hand, these organizations may mobilize against restrictions and find new ways of delivering information on human rights violations to international publics. Using a cross-national dataset and in-depth evidence from Egypt, the study finds that low numbers of restrictions trigger shaming by international non-governmental organizations. Yet once governments impose multiple types of restrictions, it becomes harder for CSOs to adapt, resulting in fewer international shaming campaigns.


Revista Trace ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Cristina Amescua Chávez

En este artículo se analizará el tema de la violencia como causa y consecuencia del secuestro virtual buscando integrar sus dimensiones tanto individuales o personales, como familiares y colectivas. Desde una perspectiva social se dará cuenta de las diversas interacciones entre los factores que se entrelazan en este nuevo fenómeno. La violencia será entendida aquí como un ciclo continuo que se reproduce a sí mismo en forma de espiral. Para el análisis se utilizarán datos cuantitativos recabados tanto en instancias gubernamentales como a través de organismos de la sociedad civil, así como información cualitativa proporcionada por un estudio de caso de un secuestro virtual.Abstract: This article analyzes violence both as a cause and as a consequence of virtual kidnapping seeking to integrate individual and collective dimensions. From a social perspective, visibility will be given to the several interactions present in this new phenomenon. Violence will be understood as a continuous cycle reproducing itself constantly but in a spiral form. The analysis will draw from quantitative data collected among official sources as well as non governmental organizations, but it will also include a qualitative perspective build a case study of a specific virtual kidnapping.Résumé : Cet article analyse la violence comme cause et effet du kidnapping virtuel, en prenant en compte ses dimensions individuelles et collectives. Dans une perspective sociale, nous examinons les diverses interactions et facteurs en jeu dans ce nouveau phénomène. La violence est ici comprise comme un cycle continu qui se reproduit luimême sous la forme d’une spirale ascendante. L’analyse part de données quantitatives provenant aussi bien d’institutions gouvernementales que d’organismes de la société civile, ainsi que de données qualitatives fournies par une étude de cas d’un kidnapping virtuel.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 416
Author(s):  
Hristina Bancheva-Preslavska ◽  
Jochen Dallmer

The European Environment Agency warns that Europe consumes too many resources and causes environmental degradation all over the world. This leads to growing demands on natural systems for food, water and energy. To achieve sustainability and ecological resilience it is necessary to complement technology-focused measures with approaches addressing consumption behaviors, changing lifestyles, enhancing knowledge and education. There are environmental communication approaches stimulating responsible consumption and ecofriendly behaviors, conducted by science and educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and others. Among them, originating from Germany, are the alternative city tours, spread also in other western countries. The aim of this case study is to design and verify urban eco tours for an eastern country - Bulgaria in order to increase young people's sensitivity to sustainability through responsible consumption and to encourage them for ecofriendly alternatives of everyday goods and services. An approach for their implementation in Bulgaria is developed and proved through qualitative and quantitative analysis, involving two different groups of youth – multipliers leading the tours and teenagers taking part. The case study presents urban eco tours as an environmental protection tool, using information about environmental impact of consumption, combined with motivational activities, to change attitudes and encourage young people for ecofriendly lifestyles.  Keywords: environmental communication, education for sustainable development, eco tour, consumption, ecology


Author(s):  
Jocelyn Olcott

This chapter examines the organizational and geopolitical rivalries that gave rise to IWY. It considers how long-simmering ideological tensions between the International Council of Women (ICW) and the Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF)—dubbed WINGOs (women’s international non-governmental organizations)—fostered competing visions for IWY. While the WIDF and its allies saw IWY as linking women’s issues with human rights, their Cold War rivals linked IWY humanitarian concerns and development strategies. Australia provides a case study of the growing rift in civil society between WINGOs and feminists and the tensions between those working within the rules of the game to those who wanted to change the game entirely. The chapter examines the Australian case to demonstrate the ways that IWY highlighted generational differences, particularly between younger women’s liberationists and older, more establishmentarian activists.


Author(s):  
Malose Langa ◽  
Steven Rebello ◽  
Linda Harms-Smith

Abstract This article reflects on the Marikana massacre of August 2012, subsequent violent strikes and responses by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a case study, and provides an analysis about whether these interventions bring transformative change or maintain the status quo in times of crisis. Events associated with Marikana are seen to be embedded in social structures of the time and part of deeper frictions and fractures of social transformation. The role that NGOs might play in this context must be interrogated as to their facilitation or hinderance of such social transformation. Interviews were conducted with representatives of NGOs intervening in Marikana that provided services of humanitarian assistance, and legal and psychosocial interventions and with mine workers and residents of Marikana about their experiences and views of these services. Findings from the study are illustrative of how NGOs were not primarily motivated to bring about lasting, transformative change but rather attempted to address immediate or short-term needs which, while important, did not account for underlying causes of the crises that they set out to address. Both ideological underpinnings of NGOs and structural conditions produced by state and capital impact on outcomes of interventions. Given these limitations, it is argued that there is a need for deep critical interrogation through praxis, for NGOs to intervene differently in times of crisis to bring ‘real’ change and transformation in the lives of those who are marginalized.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document