Organizing disaster : the construction of humanitarianism / Adam Rostis.

By:

Rostis, Adam [author.]

Material type: Text

TextSeries: Critical management studies (Series)Publisher: Bingley, UK : Emerald, 2016Edition: First editionDescription: 1 online resource (x, 156 pages)Content type:

text

Media type:

computer

Carrier type:

online resource

ISBN:

9781785606847
1785606840

Subject(s):

Genre/Form:

Electronic books.

Additional physical formats: Print version:: Organizing disaster.DDC classification:

361.26 23

LOC classification:

HV553

Online resources:

Click here to access online

Contents:

Introduction and outline of the book -- Methodology -- Problematizing humanitarianism -- The humanitarian archive-the ICRC in Africa -- MSF -- Discussion -- Conclusion.

Summary: This book challenges the taken-for-granted status of organizations such as the Red Cross and Medecins Sans Frontieres, by problematizing humanitarianism. In the experience of the Author working with such organizations, they are selective of the type of suffering that receives attention. Empirical studies of humanitarianism note that the suffering it purports to alleviate is increasing although aid is now highly organized, funded, and globalized. These observations inform the key question of the book: what purpose does the humanitarian organization serve? Rostis explores this question through a Foucauldian genealogy of humanitarianism focusing on the European colonial era and the Biafra War. The role of colonialism in the humanitarian organization is made apparent, and facilitates an interpretation of the results of his inquiry using postcolonial theory. This unique contribution to organization studies re-reads humanitarianism to show that humanitarian organizations essentially serve as global disciplinary institutions. It will be essential reading for scholars in political science, international sociology, organization studies and international affairs.

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Online resource; title from PDF title page (EBSCO, viewed April 21, 2016).

Includes bibliographical references (pages 139-150) and index.

This book challenges the taken-for-granted status of organizations such as the Red Cross and Medecins Sans Frontieres, by problematizing humanitarianism. In the experience of the Author working with such organizations, they are selective of the type of suffering that receives attention. Empirical studies of humanitarianism note that the suffering it purports to alleviate is increasing although aid is now highly organized, funded, and globalized. These observations inform the key question of the book: what purpose does the humanitarian organization serve? Rostis explores this question through a Foucauldian genealogy of humanitarianism focusing on the European colonial era and the Biafra War. The role of colonialism in the humanitarian organization is made apparent, and facilitates an interpretation of the results of his inquiry using postcolonial theory. This unique contribution to organization studies re-reads humanitarianism to show that humanitarian organizations essentially serve as global disciplinary institutions. It will be essential reading for scholars in political science, international sociology, organization studies and international affairs.

Introduction and outline of the book -- Methodology -- Problematizing humanitarianism -- The humanitarian archive-the ICRC in Africa -- MSF -- Discussion -- Conclusion.

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