Geopolitics in humanitarian action Essay

The analysis of how semipolitical decisions are conditioned by geographical settings is the subject matter of geopolitics. In purely spatial terms, geopolitics is the study of boundaries and areas. In conceptual terms, geopolitics comprises the study of international relations and the outcome of power struggles, at local and global scales. It explores events such as the branch of new asserts, the fragmentation of countries, and regional conflicts affecting several countries. The most important and long-lasting geopolitical event of the 20th century is the Cold War. The international do-gooder system has witnessed a dramatically transformation since the end of the Cold War, and even more so since the war on terror.To beneathstand humanist intercession in contemporary complex emergencies, the air will take apart the improver action and the changing geopolitical system. We will discuss many of the fundamental debates concerning the nature, persuasiveness and evolution of the humanitarian actions, the different humanitarian actors and the accompanying political dynamics that arise in variety of regional contexts. Among other issues, students will critically analyze the relationship between aid and conflict concepts of neutrality relationship to military intervention among others.We will use case studies to understand the growing complexity and the political weave of actors and influences affecting all those involve in humanitarian action and the changing operating environment. The course will encourage students to consider what is or could be the international communitys carrying capacity for response in a future of small-scale and regional wars producing humanitarian crises in the years to come. Finally, the course raillery will focus in on models of cooperation among actors that put rather than marginalize those populations and communities trapped in conflict, displacement and deprivation. Course general objectivesThis course examines the evolution of the humanitarian action in relation to changes in the international system. The students will be able to a) learn the political economy of conflict and humanitarian assistance b) Analyze the evolving nature of conflict in the international context c) realise the evolving architecture of the international humanitarian system d) Analyze contemporary aspects of security and conflict, the concept of state sovereignty, and the uneven geopolitics of humanitarian action e) Explore study debates and controversies of contemporary humanitarian action.Methods of assessmentGrading will be based on the following label VG or G (Distinction or Pass) as well as ECTS grades. Grading will be a combination of the in-class team oral breakations (40%), a create verbally final essay (50%), and the diligent participation of students in class (10%).The groups will be integrated by 5 or 6 students each. They will present to the class one selected humanitarian intervention case in 30 minutes with 1 5 additional minutes for questions and answers. All members of the group should participate. Presentations will be scheduled the first day of the course. The humanitarian intervention recommended for presentations are Syria, Iraq, former-Yugoslavia (Kosovo), the Horn of Africa, Ruanda, Afghanistan and Sudan. We can discuss other humanitarian interventions. This course is heavily participatory.For this reason, presence and active participation will be expected at all sessions. Participation shall reflect critical analysis and reflection based on readings. The final pen essay will be submitted during the IX Session of the course (Friday 22 November). The professor will explain the essays topic in the base of the course. The essay consists of a maximum of 2500 words. Preparation for class includes readings from books, articles, and websites. Classes are a combination of lecture, discussion, presentations, and videos. Sessions overviewSession I Mon 4 November, 10-12 room TBAIntroduct ion Overview of course and topics presented course requirements and expectations. Objectives1. Review of Syllabus2. Discussion of course requirements3. Selection of oral group presentations.Session II Wed 6 November, 10-12 Room TBAGeopolitics Overview Conflict analysis and the political economy of violenceObjectives1.- Understand the changing dynamics of conflict in the international system 2.- Develop alternative means of analyzing conflict and understanding the move of conflict 3.- Understand the interaction of humanitarian programming and conflict.Session III Fri 8 November, 10-12 Room TBAInternational and regional organizations in the global systemObjectives1.- Understand the role of governmental and non-governmental actors in the international system 2.- Discuss the role of security institutions What is the role of NATO, UN, UE, OAS and the other regional organizations in dealing with interstate and intrastate conflicts?Session IV Mon 11 November, 10-12 Room Eng TBAThe evolvin g nature of humanitarian crisisObjectives1.- Understand the changing nature of humanitarian crises2.- Analyze the implications for state sovereignty of Internationalhumanitarian action.Session V Wed 13 November, 10-12 Room TBAAn introduction to humanitarian action and the evolving architecture of humanitarian intervention Objectives1.- Describe the historical evolution and trends in humanitarian action 2.- Understand the normative foundations of humanitarian action 3.- Understand the normative frameworks that have guided humanitarian action. Session VI Fri 15 November, 10-12 Room TBAMain players and actors in humanitarian actionObjectives1.- Understand the definitions, types and organization of humanitarian agencies.Session VII Mon 18 November, 10-12 Room TBAThe contemporary operating environmentObjectives1.-Explore the major debates and controversies of contemporary humanitarism Presentation of 2 Case StudiesSession VII Wed 20 November, 10-12 TBAThe future of humanitarian action1.- Understand a complex political catch and its consequences 2.-Identify recent trends in humanitarian action.Presentation of 2 case studiesSession IX Fri 22 November, 10-12 Room TBAFinal discussion on models of cooperation among diverse actors that empower rather than marginalize vulnerable populations and communities trapped in conflict and humanitarian action. Presentation of 2 case studies and final essay submission.Literature ListBooks necessaryWalker, Peter & Daniel Maxwell. Shaping the add-on World. New YorkRoutledge, 2009 http//www.amazon.com/Shaping-Humanitarian-World-Global-Institutions/dp/0415773717reader_0415773717 Electronic resourcesAnderson, Mary. The Do No Harm Handbook. Cambridge, Local Capacities for Peace, Project, 2004. get-at-able on http//www.cdainc.com/dnh/docs/DoNoHarmHandbook.pdfBarnett, Michael. Humanitarianism transformed. Perspectives on politics, Vol. 3, No.4 (Dec., 2005), pp. 723-740. favorable on http//www.jstor.org/stable/3688176Bellamy, Alex. The R esponsibility to ProtectFive Years On. Ethics & International Affairs Vol.24 (2), 2010, pp. 143169. Accessible on http//responsibilitytoprotect.org/Bellamy.pdfCollinson, Sarah, Samir Elhawary and Robert Muggah. States of fragility stabilization and its implications for humanitarian action. Disasters. Vol. 34 Supplement, 2010, pp. 275S296. Accessible on http//www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/5978.pdfKlare, Michael. The New Geography of Conflict. Foreign Affairs, Vol.80, No.3 (May-Jun., 2001), pp. 49-61. Accessible on http//www.jstor.org/stable/20050150Moore, Jonathan. Deciding Humanitarian Intervention. Social Research, Vol. 74, No. 1, Difficult Choices (SPRING 2007), pp. 169-200. Accessible on http//www.jstor.org/stable/40971894Rieff, David. Humanitarianism in crisis. Foreign Affairs, Vol.81, No.6 (Nov-Dec 2002), pp. 111-121. Accessible on http//www.jstor.org/stable/20033348Chapters of books recommendedBellamy, Allex. Humanitarian Intervention in world politics in Baylis, John et al. T he globalisation of world politics An introduction to international relations. Oxford Oxford university Press, 2008, pp. 522-538.Duffield, Mark. Global Governance and the New Wars In Duffield, Mark. Global Governance and the Causes of Conflict. New York Zed book, 2002, pp. 108-136.Keen, David, Going to War How quick-scented Is It? in International Committee of the Red. Cross, War, Money and Survival. Geneva, 2000, pp. 28-31.Kupchan, Charles A. Empires and Geopolitical Competition Gone for Good in Crocker, Chester et al. (eds.) Turbulent Peace The challenges of managing international conflict. Washington joined States make of Peace, 2001,pp. 39-52.Spearin, Christopher. Humanitarians and mercenaries Partners in security Governance? in Krahmann, Elke. New threats and new actors in international security. New York Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 45-68Rufin, Jean-Christophe The Economics of War A New Theory for build up Conflicts in International Committee of the Red Cross. War, Money and Surviva, Geneva, 2000, pp. 22-27Recommended reports and electronic articlesICISS. The Responsibility to Protect. Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty. New York, UN, 2001. Accessible on http//responsibilitytoprotect.org/ICISS%20Report.pdfThe Sphere Project. Humanitarian Charter & Minimum Standards in Disaster Response http//www.sphereproject.org/content/view/27/84/lang,english/de Torrente, Nicolas. Humanitarian carry out under Attack Reflections on the Iraq War. Harvard Human Rights Journal. Vol. 17(1), 2004, pp. 1-30.Huysmans, Jef. Shape-Shifting NATO Humanitarian Action and the Kosovo Refugee Crisis. Review of International Studies, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 2002), pp. 599-618. Accessible on http//www.jstor.org/stable/20097813Weiss, Thomas and Peter Hoffman. The mist over of Humanitarianism Collective Action problems and Learning-Challenged Organizations. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, Vol.1 (1), 2007, pp. 47-65Useful Humanitari an websitesRelief Web http//www.reliefweb.intAlert Net http//www.alertnet.orgCollaborative learning project http//www.cdainc.com/cdawww/default.php United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. http//www.unocha.org/ World nourishment Program http//www.wfp.orgThe Humanitarian Policy Group www.odi.org.uk/hpg/The Humanitarian Practice Network www.odihpn.org/The Sphere Project http//www.sphereproject.org/Action Learning Network for Accountability http//www.alnap.org/And Performance (ALNAP)The Humanitarian Accountability Partnership www.hapinternational.org/International (HAP-I)People in Aid www.peopleinaid.org/Websites of major humanitarian agenciesUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian http//www.unocha.org/Affairs (OCHA)International Committee of the Red Cross http//www.icrc.org/ International Federation of Red Cross and http//www.ifrc.org/Red Crescent SocietiesMdecins sans Frontires http//www.msf.org/The World Food Programme http//www.wfp.org/Oxfam http// www.oxfam.org/World Vision http//www.wvi.org/CARE http//www.care.org/Journal of humanitarian Assistance http//jha.acVideosKofi Annan Center of the Storm, PBS Video, 2002