Dr Tim Allen (Room V402)

For students taking MSc Development Management, MSc Development Studies, MSc Anthropology and Development, MSc Population and Development, MSc Environment and Development, MSc Political Economy of Late Development, MSc Human Rights, MSc Urbanisation and Development, MPA Public and Economic Policy/MPA Public Policy and Management, MSc Global Politics, MSc NGOs and Development and MSc Health, Community and Development. Students taking other degrees may only take this half unit with the permission of the DESTIN administrators.

The course looks at international, national and local responses to humanitarian disasters and civil wars, with a specific focus on efforts to ameliorate social, economic and political processes.

Building on analysis of the consequences and causes of humanitarian disasters (the primary focus of DV420 – Complex Emergencies), this course focuses on the activities of humanitarian actors (including aid workers, journalists, medics, government officials, soldiers, politicians and peace negotiators). It covers both issues relating to humanitarian assistance and humanitarian intervention, and explores the overlaps and tensions between the two. It will also examine ways in which populations that are on the receiving end of humanitarian projects and programmes respond to them, and in some cases subvert or transform them into quite different directions to those anticipated. Case studies will be drawn mostly from Africa but also from the Middle East and other parts of the world.

The course will be taught in the LT and will consist of 10 lectures of two-hours, 10 film sessions of two hours, and ten seminars of one-and-a-half hours. In addition, there will be a revision day in the ST.

Students will either chose to write a practice essay under exam conditions, or an essay not exceeding 2,000 words. Essay topics will relate to class presentations, and will receive an indicative grade and feedback within two weeks of submission.

Nicholas J. Wheeler Saving Strangers: Humanitarian Intervention in International Society, Oxford: Oxford U.P.
De Waal, A. 1997. Famine Crimes: Politics and the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa. London: James Currey
Gil Loescher (2001) The UNHCR and World Politics, Oxford University Press.
David Rieff (2002) A bed For the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis, Vintage/Random House.

Two hour examination 100%