Call for papers are invited by South-South Humanitarianism in Contexts of Forced Displacement at Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford on Saturday 6th October, 2012.
European and North-American led humanitarian responses to contexts of forced displacement are increasingly being paralleled and at times openly challenged by an ever-expanding array of “alternative” models of humanitarian intervention. However, while extensive research has been conducted on South-South development programmes (i.e. Chinese development funding in sub-Saharan Africa), and “alternatives todevelopment” (i.e. post-development studies), there remains a need to comparatively examine South-South humanitarian partnerships. This workshop provides a space for critically reflection upon the various histories, modes of operation and implications of diverse “alternative” models of humanitarian action; such critical analysis is particularly important given increasing governmental and UN interest in Southern-led humanitarianism for a variety of financial and political reasons.
The workshop invites papers from academics, postgraduate research students, practitioners, advocates and displaced people which explore questions including:
• What is the history of different models of state and non-state South-South humanitarianism?
• Given the heterogeneity which exists between and amongst Northern and Southern state and non-state actors, what, if any, are the similarities and differences which exist between Northern-led and Southern-led humanitarian initiatives?
• What are the motivations underpinning diverse Southern state, civil-society, collective and individual responses to diverse contexts of displacement?
• How are South-South humanitarian programmes and projects experienced and assessed by different members of Southern displaced populations?
• Do diverse South-South humanitarian initiatives complement and/or challenge Northern-led humanitarianism?
• What is the relationship between South-South humanitarianism and the “international” humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality?
Proposals are invited from postgraduate research students and early career researchers and Southern-based academics, researchers and practitioners. Limited support may be available for research students, and academics, researchers and practitioners from the global South.
Deadline: 22nd June, 2012
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