Social Science Research Council

One of the central features of the transformation of humanitarianism is the more ambitious effort to reconstitute and establish effective states. Many believe that this move from relief to peacebuilding will help define the next decade of humanitarian action. Are these sorts of interventions designed to repair or replace existing states? What of the mounting evidence that humanitarian aid can introduce new incentive structures on the ground that are potentially incompatible with the goal of building legitimate states? What does it mean for humanitarian organizations to try to build local capacity of state and non-state institutions? Is this possible? What tensions exist between different humanitarian organizations with different priorities and ethical commitments as they attempt to engineer the peacebuilding process?

February 2005 Presenters

Michael Barnett, Harold Stassen Chair of International Affairs, Humphrey School, University of Minnesota
Link to paper: "Illiberal Peacekeeping and Liberal States"

Simon Chesterman, Executive Director, Institute for International Law and Justice, New York University School of Law
Link to paper: "Building Up or Building Down the State: State-Building and Humanitarian and Development Assistance"