Rethinking humanitarianism
Many perceive humanitarianism as straightforward: 'helping'. Others regard humanitarian principles as unattainable, see neutrality as impossible, and argue that humanitarianism always risks doing more harm than good. Still others are embroiled in legal battles over 'humanitarian smuggling' as volunteers helping forced migrants become inadvertent criminals in some eyes - and saviours in many others. The notion of humanitarian actors today has expanded to include citizens, refugees themselves, and even the private sector. Yet these actors bring legal, social, and political tensions that challenge the definition of humanitarianism itself. Even in more 'straightforward' refugee assistance the line between humanitarian and development assistance continues to be blurred. Some of the questions addressed here include: Is 'humanitarian smuggling' a duty of humanity? What is the impact of anti-smuggling measures on civil society? How can the international refugee regime better undertake development assistance?
Anne-Line Rodriguez
Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Queen Mary University of London
Anne-Line is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London. Prior to this, she was an Early Career Fellow in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies at the Refugee Studies Centre.
Full Profile
Cathryn Costello
Andrew W Mellon Associate Professor of International Human Rights and Refugee Law
Cathryn Costello is Andrew W Mellon Associate Professor of International Human Rights and Refugee Law, and a fellow of St Antony's College. Cathryn has published widely on many aspects of EU and human rights law, including asylum and refugee law, immigration, EU Citizenship and third country national family members, family reunification and immigration detention.
Full Profile
Jennifer Allsopp
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, SOAS
Jennifer Allsopp is a writer, policy analyst and researcher working on migration, asylum, gender, democracy and social policy. She has worked with NGOs and at the universities of Oxford, Exeter, Birmingham and Queen Mary's and with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).
Full Profile