Hierarchies and exclusion in humanitarianism

by Clara Egger (Editor)

Overview

While humanitarians generally present themselves as ‘do-gooders’ and use this image to gather support and funding, this edited volume addresses hierarchies and exclusions in humanitarianism – an issue that has gained increased attention. Contributions analyse how hierarchies, power asymmetries and exclusion emerge, are maintained and can ultimately be challenged in humanitarian governance. Leading scholars on humanitarianism coming from a variety of disciplinary fields such as international relations, philosophy, organisational science and management, and sociology analyse exclusion dynamics at the individual, organisational and structural levels. Authors thereby combine data from a diverse range of methods, including ethnography, survey and statistical analysis. The volume informs current efforts to increase inclusiveness and equity in humanitarian practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526177940
Publisher:	Manchester University Press
Publication date:	06/24/2025
Series:	Humanitarianism: Key Debates and New Approaches
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Clara Egger is an Assistant Professor of Global Governance at the Department of Public Administration and Sociology of the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Table of Contents

Introduction: Analysing Hierarchies and Exclusion Dynamics in Humanitarianism - Clara Egger and Andrea Schneiker
1 Hierarchy in Humanitarian Governance - Michael Barnett
2 Hierarchies and the drawing of boundaries in humanitarian action - Anna Khakee
3 Decolonising Humanitarianism: Beyond the Politics of Morality - Michael Onyebuchi Eze,
4 SCHR and Humanitarian Standard-setting: How field dynamics produce coordination and hierarchy - Maryam Zarnegar Deloffre
5 The Good, the Rogue and the Others: Donors’ hierarchies in humanitarianism - Clara Egger
6 Hierarchies, Exclusion and Solidarity in the Maritime Humanitarian Space: Sea Rescue NGOs in the Mediterranean - Eugenio Cusumano
7 Stairway to Heaven: Humanitarian NGOs, Distinction, and Hierarchies of Professionalism - Monique J. Beerli
8 When gender is not enough – intersectional perspectives on hierarchies in aid relationships - Silke Roth
9 International NGOs as brokers of hierarchies in the localisation agenda: a case study from the Philippines - Marie-Claude Savard, Nelson Dueñas and François Audet
10 Why they stay and why they go: The effect of role clarity and social relations on turnover and exclusion in Médecins sans Frontières Holland - Liesbet Heyse and Melinda Mills, Miranda Visser, Rafael Wittek
11 Power hierarchies within research collaborations: the potential of co-production in humanitarian settings - Michelle Lokot and Caitlin Wake
Conclusion Joost Herman and Dorothea Hilhorst

Editorial Reviews

'This volume provides an honest and much-needed examination of the power dynamics and exclusionary practices within the humanitarian field. By unpacking the mechanisms that sustain hierarchies, it offers invaluable insights for anyone seeking to understand or reform humanitarianism, its governance, and real practices.' Rodrigo Mena, Assistant Professor of Disasters and Humanitarian Studies, Erasmus UniversityRotterdam

'Behind the benign face of humanitarian organizations working hard to save lives and relieve suffering in crises, there is competition, hierarchy, and exclusion. Some humanitarian actors become powerful organizations, other weak ones, and some are not even noticed as "real" humanitarians. In this innovative volume, Clara Egger and her co-authors do a great job explaining why this is the case. Well documented, well studied and revealing, this edited volume is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand humanitarian action and its governance. It is not just a superb scholarly work, but also a call to action to improve the humanitarian system.' Dennis Dijkzeul, Professor in Conflict and Organization Research, Ruhr UniversityBochum

'Egger shows clearly that among humanitarian organizations are better and worse, those who have access to a great portion of resources and those who struggle to take at least a bit of humanitarian cake. Egger, combining her experience in governance and humanitarian studies, managed to create a cold, painfully objective picture of the humanitarian world susceptible to all known abuses. Egger’s book helps us to understand another dimension of the hierarchy of global governance which is of particular importance having in mind that humanitarian aspects are at the first front of every crisis debate in the main governance bodies, including the Security Council of the United Nations.' Patrycja Grzebyk, Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw

'This book provides conceptual tools and empirical insights needed for making sense of the decolonising of humanitarian aid. Going beyond the ‘global-local’ and ‘North-South’ dichotomies that define the localisation agenda, it serves as a vantage point for thinking more systematically about equality and inclusion in the humanitarian ecosystem.' Kristoffer Lidén, Senior Researcher at PRIO and the Norwegian Centre for Humanitarian Studies

From the Publisher