A tradition of forgetting

Stabilisation and Humanitarian Action in Historical Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID3898604
AuthorsSultan Barakat (0000-0003-3747-785X, University of York), Seán Deely (University of York), Steven A Zyck (University of York)
Year2010
Volume34
Issues3
PagesS297-319
Publication date2010-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisasters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01207.x
PMID20846347
OpenAlexW1988809270
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited32

While subject to increasing articulation and institutionalisation, stabilisation is a long-standing concept and practice that has consistently engaged with and, at times, conflicted with varied understandings of humanitarianism and humanitarian action. Reviewing selected historical experiences, including the Philippines (1898-1902), Algeria (1956-62), Vietnam (1967-75) and El Salvador (1980-92), this paper argues that contemporary models of stabilisation build on and repeat mistakes of the past, particularly the overt securitisation of aid and the perception that humanitarian and development actors are able to purchase security effectively. Where current stabilisation differs from its earlier incarnations, as in the introduction of the private sector and incorporation of humanitarian action into war-fighting strategies, the implications are shown to be troubling if not outright disastrous. T his examination of historical experience, which includes many failures and few, if any, successes, raises the likelihood that it is not solely the design or implementation of individual stability operations that require modification but perhaps the entire concept of stabilisation itself

Action (physics · Articulation (sociology · Forgetting · Humanitarian aid · Institutionalisation · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Subject (documents · Computer Science · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Psychology

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