A critical post-positivist studies perspective on humanitarianism

Revista CIDOB d' Afers Internacionals_117
Publication date: 12/2017
Author:
Itziar Ruiz-Giménez Arrieta, Profesora de Relaciones Internacionales, miembro del Grupo de Estudios Africanos (GEA) y del Grupo de Estudio de Relaciones Internacionales (GERI), UAM
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 A year after the First World Humanitarian Summit (Istanbul, May 23rd-24th 2016), this paper seeks to contribute to the analysis of some of the main challenges facing the international humanitarian system, which has over the last decades suffered from a double process of problematisation and politicisation. To do this, a critical dialogue is established between social constructivism, post-structuralism, post-colonialism, feminism and the anthropology of aid, which, among other post-positivist schools, have emphasised the need to place the controversies related to “identity politics” within humanitarianism at the centre of international political debate.

Key words: humanitarianism, humanitarian assistance, social constructivism, feminism, post-structuralism, post-colonialism, anthropology of aid, post-positivist schools

DOI: doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2017.117.3.173

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