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Course, academic year 2022/2023
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Contemporary Humanitarian Action: Dilemmas and Opportunities - JPM823
Title: Contemporary Humanitarian Action: Dilemmas and Opportunities
Guaranteed by: Department of Security Studies (23-KBS)
Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
Actual: from 2022
Semester: summer
E-Credits: 4
Examination process: summer s.:
Hours per week, examination: summer s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
Capacity: unknown / unknown (25)
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: not taught
Language: English
Teaching methods: full-time
Teaching methods: full-time
Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan
enabled for web enrollment
priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
Guarantor: PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D.
Examination dates   Schedule   Noticeboard   
Annotation
This course results from a deep concern with the profound changes operated in the international system after the end of the Cold War, more specifically the ones related with the increase of violent intrastate conflicts and the challenges these pose to both the theory and practice of humanitarian action.
Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Aim of the course
The objectives of the course are thus not only to develop analytical and understanding skills applied to humanitarian action, its goals, and framings, but also to stimulate a critical stance towards the many developments and challenges posed to contemporary humanitarian action. The aim is to rethink humanitarian action in the future, its new fields of action in terms of assistance or protection of the victims, the new actors involved as well as the new debates around the theory and practice of humanitarian action, namely in the post-9/11 international system.
Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Descriptors

The organization of the classes requires an active students’ participation. The course will resort to different strategies and methods, aiming at a progresive and paralel development of theoretical and practical work. The discussion of readings and case-studies on the main conceptual debates will allow the consolidation of the students’ knowledge. The group work aims at helping students develop ‘learning-by -doing’ skills.

Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Course completion requirements

Each group/humanitarian organization/actor will have to elaborate a position paper for the given humanitarian crisis. In this position paper, each group will have to provide an assessment report including:

 

-       Background of the humanitarian crisis (context, nature, causes, origins, actors involved, etc.;

-       Needs assessment;

-       Plan of action/aid to be provided in accordance to each organization’s principles of action and rules of engagement and the needs assessment made;

-       Coordination mechanisms to be adopted in relation to other actors working on the ground;

-       Goals to be attained and expected results

Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Literature

See the syllabus for details.

Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Teaching methods

The organization of the classes requires an active students’ participation. The course will resort to different strategies and methods, aiming at a progresive and paralel development of theoretical and practical work. The discussion of readings and case-studies on the main conceptual debates will allow the consolidation of the students’ knowledge. The group work aims at helping students develop ‘learning-by -doing’ skills.

Zoom link:

https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/87964449572?pwd=cjlibHRUM28zY2FQSTExSzZHb2w0UT09

Meeting ID: 879 6444 9572
Meeting password: 332868

Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (26.04.2022)
Requirements to the exam

Group Exercise/Position Paper

“Responding to a humanitarian crisis: a role play exercise”

 

 

Humanitarian crisis in Yemen

-       ICRC

-       MSF

-       ECHO

 

Humanitarian crisis in Myanmar

-       ICRC

-       MSF

-       Government of Bangladesh

 

Each group/humanitarian organization/actor will have to elaborate a position paper for the given humanitarian crisis. In this position paper, each group will have to provide an assessment report including:

 

-       Background of the humanitarian crisis (context, nature, causes, origins, actors involved, etc.;

-       Needs assessment;

-       Plan of action/aid to be provided in accordance to each organization’s principles of action and rules of engagement and the needs assessment made;

-       Coordination mechanisms to be adopted in relation to other actors working on the ground;

-       Goals to be attained and expected results

Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Syllabus

Session 1

1. Foundations, concepts and theories of the classical humanitarianism

1.1.- Origins, evolution and historical trajectories of humanitarianism

1.2- Values and humanitarian principles

1.3- Normative foundations and legal framework of humanitarian action

- Classic humanitarianism

 

Readings

Barnett, Michael (2011) Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism. Ithaca: Cornell University Press; Introduction;

 

O'Sullivan, Kevin; Hilton, Matthew; Fiori, Juliano (2016) “Humanitarianisms in context” European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire 23(1-2): 1-15.

 

Torrenté, Nicolas de, (2004), “Humanitarianism Sacrificed: Integration’s False Promise”, in Ethics & International Affairs, vol.18, nº2, pp.3-12 (www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/EIA18-2de Torrenté. pdf)

 

 

Session 2

2 - New and old wars

2.1 - Failed states and complex humanitarian emergencies  

 

Readings

Kaldor, Mary (1999), New and Old Wars. Cambridge: Polity Press, chapter 3: “Bosnia-Herzegovina: A Case Study of a New War”, pp.31-68.

 

Ayoob, Mohammed (2006), “State-making, state-breaking and state failure”, in Chester Crocker et al (eds.), Leashing the dogs of war: conflict management in a divided world. Washington: United States Institute for Peace.

 

Newman, Edward (2004),The ‘New Wars’ Debate: A Historical Perspective Is Needed”, Security Dialogue, 35(2), 173–189.

 

Session 3

3.The ‘new humanitarianism’: dilemmas and opportunities

3.1         – Politicization and selectivity

3.2         - Erosion of principles

3.3         – Human rights conditionality

3.4          - Militarization

 

Readings

O’Brien, Paul (2004) “Politicized Humanitarianism: A Response to Nicolas de Torrente”, Harvard Human Rights Journal 17: 31-39.

 

Adeplhi Papers (1996) “The changing context of humanitarian action” The Adelphi Papers 36(305): 10-18.

 

Binder, Martin (2009) “Humanitarian crises and the international politics of selectivity”, Human Rights Review, 10, pp. 327-348.

 

Nascimento, Daniela (2015) “One step forward, two steps back? Humanitarian Challenges and Dilemmas in Crisis Settings” the Journal of Humanitarian Assistance February 18

 

 

Session 4

4. Contemporary debates and challenges

4.1 The humanitarianism-development – security nexus

4.2          The humanitarian reforms and the World Humanitarian Summits

 

Readings

Nascimento, Daniela; Freire, Maria Raquel; Lopes, Paula Duarte (2012), “he Nexus between Security, Development and Humanitarianism: A Critical Appraisal to Multidimensional Peace Missions”, in Fulvio Attinà (org.), The Politics and Policies of Relief, Aid and Reconstruction. Contrasting Approaches to Disasters and Emergencies. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

 

Duffield Mark (2010) “Risk-Management and the Fortified Aid Compound: Everyday Life in Post-Interventionary Society” Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding 4(4):453-474.

 

Lockyear, Cristopher; Cunningham, Andrew (2017), “Who is your constituency? The political engagement of humanitarian organizations”, Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 2:9.

 

 

Session 5 –

Group work - Preparation of exercise and position papers

 

Session 6

Presentation of position papers

Debate and conclusions

Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Entry requirements

The course is open to all students of master's degree programmes at the Department of Security Studies, or the remaining departments of the Institute of Political Studies.

Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
Registration requirements
No specific requirements for the enrollment are set for the course.
Last update: Karásek Tomáš, PhDr. JUDr., Ph.D. (18.01.2022)
 
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