Humanitarianism and the Quantification of Human Needs: Minimal Humanity
Joël Glasman
Routledge, Humanitarian Studies
Series 2020, London/New York
Joël Glasman is a historian and professor at the University of Bayreuth (Germany). Here, the author discusses his book with Vincent Hiribarren, Senior Lecturer in Modern African History, World History and Environmental History at King’s College London.
What prompted you to write a book on humanitarian statistics?
Statistics have become central to humanitarian decision-making. The omnipresence of numbers and graphics in the ongoing response to Covid-19 makes this very clear. Yet, numbers – such as mortality rates, malnutrition prevalence and refugee numbers – are ubiquitous in all major humanitarian crises. Today, all critical humanitarian battles are fought wielding numerical data and mathematical models. However, historical re- search has shown little interest in such numbers, until now. There has been significant research into the imagery of humanitarian action, its narratives, legal codification, and the ways in which it galvanises moral sentiment, inspired by the writings of authors such as Didier Fassin and Luc Boltanski. But strangely enough, there has been minimal research into the history of numbers. It is curious indeed that numerical data contin- ues to be perceived as rational, objective and dispassionate. In reality, a heavy moral responsibility is conferred upon numerical data, as it is used to answer questions such as: when should the United Nations intervene? Which organisation has legitimacy on the ground? Which populations should be the first to receive aid? Humanitarian data triggers emotions and informs decision-making, and has impacts that reach far beyond the humanitarian sector.
As an example, let’s look at the “crude death rate”, a widely used emergency threshold. For the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a humanitarian crisis is considered to be occurring in a given region if the crude death rate exceeds 1 death per 10,000 inhabitants per day. However, this threshold is arbi- trary. Indeed, the significance of any given indicator varies greatly from one context to another. In some poor countries, crude death rates are particularly high, even under “normal” circumstances. While in rich countries, such as France, the 1 death per 10,000 inhabitants per day threshold is not exceeded, even in times of crisis. This variability has prompted a number of organisations to propose the use of thresholds adapted to the different regions of the world. Thus, in order to qualify as a crisis, a disaster would need to cause at least 1.07 deaths per 10,000 inhabitants per day in sub-Saharan Africa, while 0.46 deaths would suffice in South Asia and 0.03 deaths in rich countries. How- ever, this new definition would require that, before it could be recognised as such, ahumanitarian crisis would have to claim 35 times more lives in Africa than in Europe. It is clearly impossible to define a humanitarian crisis in neutral terms. Defining a crisis statistically does not resolve the tension between abstract universalism and unaccept- able relativism.
All organisations rely on numbers. How are humanitarian organisations specific in this regard?
There are two main points of view regarding humanitarian statistics today. For some, statistics guarantee integrity, transparency and effectiveness. The United Nations itself is calling for a “data revolution” and “statistical evidence-based” humanitarian aid. Many authors ardently argue this point of view: they see the growing use of statistics, technological tools and mobile technologies as a natural corollary to increasing spe- cialisation and professionalisation in the humanitarian sector.
Other more critical authors see the use of numerical data as a consequence of neoliberal governmentality. For French political scientist Béatrice Hibou, for example, translating circumstances into numbers is a means of exporting market logic. As NGOs adopt busi- ness practices under the pressure of donors, practices such as accounting, management and benchmarking are gaining ground throughout the world.
There is, of course, a measure of truth in both these points of view on humanitarianism. On the one hand, a process of specialisation is undeniably underway. And on the oth- er, neoliberal principles are in effect being applied, causing widespread competition between individuals, in ways that sometimes tend towards the absurd. Competition is increasing between affected populations competing for aid, between NGOs competing for funding, and between donors.
However, though the critique of neoliberalism is necessary, it must not blind us to the fact that humanitarian organisations have a measure of independence, and therefore a responsibility in the development of humanitarian statistics. In my book, I consid- er a third perspective. I believe that contemporary humanitarianism’s “quantification fervour” is not solely attributable to external pressure. It is also a natural by-product of humanitarianism’s own self-determined trajectory, as can be seen by examining the concept of “basic human need”. Humanitarian organisations have themselves re- peatedly made decisions that lend altogether excessive – and sometimes irrational – weight to statistics. Yet, humanitarian statistics are often quite poor in quality. This is not because those who produce statistics are inept, but because disasters are by their very nature difficult to comprehend statistically. Models are useful, but crises do not fit neatly into models. When a crisis first occurs, nobody knows what parameters to measure, how to measure those parameters, what to compare them with, etc. We are inevitably in the dark. What is more, humanitarian organisations often operate in regions where the institutions that are responsible for producing numerical data and documents have been destroyed or considerably weakened. Caution would therefore require that humanitarian organisations rely upon a diversity of expertise. However, the data generation imperative tends to end dialogue, attributing disproportionate im- portance to “statistical evidence” that curtails debate. The faith placed in humanitarian indicators today is excessive.
What is the significance of the concept of “basic human need”? How are humanitarian organisations quantifying these needs in Central Africa?
The concept of “needs” is central to the humanitarian narrative. Despite competing in other arenas, all major humanitarian aid actors agree when it comes to the crucial importance of “basic needs”. This consensus is expressed in the Core Principles signed by humanitarian organisations. At the beginning of the 20th century, helping people “impartially” meant helping everyone without discrimination (based on nationality, religion, etc.). Today (since the 1960s), the concept of impartiality has evolved con- siderably. Indeed, impartiality has come to signify the allocation of resources “based
on humanitarian needs” (as specified by the Humanitarian NGO Code of Conduct: “aid priorities are calculated on the basis of needs alone”). In order to be considered fair, aid must be proportional to need. However, this new definition has, in essence, replaced a moral principle with a mathematical rule. Nowadays, humanitarian doctrine requires, almost by definition, that humanitarian organisations are able to define, measure and compare the needs of populations. Humanitarian organisations define minimum thresh- olds, standards and lists of conditions required for survival (e.g. 2,100 kilocalories and 15 litres of water per person per day, 250 grams of soap for bathing per person per month, etc.). The problem lies in the inevitable arbitrariness of these universal stand- ards. In reality, different societies have very different outlooks on what people need. Yet, humanitarian organisations define the needs of populations based on their own concerns – their own limited resources, their own power struggles on the ground, their own need for good relations with their partners, etc.
Let’s take the example of Cameroon. In recent years, Cameroon has been qualified as a country “undergoing a humanitarian crisis”. With the influx of Nigerian and Central African refugees between 2014 and 2015, a host of international emergency aid or- ganisations intervened on the ground: NGOs such as Médecins sans Frontières, Première Urgence, etc. along with United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). All these organisations produce numerical data: UNHCR on the number of refugees, UNICEF on child malnutrition, WFP on food security, etc., but ultimately, the question of how to allocate resources remains. Should priority be given to the refugees defended by the UNHCR, the displaced persons docu- mented by the International Organization for Migration, or the malnourished children identified by UNICEF? How should the needs of different groups be compared? And how should these needs be prioritised? As the central office of the United Nations, it is OCHA’s duty to carry out this coordination work. Yet, in order to avoid the wrath of com- peting humanitarian organisations, OCHA employs algorithms to produce health-sec- tor-specific arithmetic averages. In other words, OCHA produces somewhat arbitrary “vulnerability” ratings, the ambition of which is simply to achieve consensus among aid operators. Thus, the calculation of “needs” is determined as much by the power struggles between humanitarian organisations as it is by the requests of populations.
We would like to thank Vincent Hiribarren for allowing us to reproduce his interview with Joël Glasman, originally published on the Africa4 Blog (http://libeafrica4.blogs.liberation.fr) that he hosts alongside Jean-Pierre Bat.
Translated from the French by Naomi Walker
Pingback: Testing62
Pingback: therapy dose for celebrex
Pingback: celebrex and psoriasis
Pingback: azithromycin 600 mg
Pingback: siamese kittens for sale near me
Pingback: buy guns online without ffl
Pingback: psilocybe semilanceata
Pingback: sig sauer p365
Pingback: amoxicillin augmentin
Pingback: fish antibiotics amoxicillin
Pingback: Vidalista 20mg
Pingback: market trends
Pingback: free cialis samples south africa
Pingback: buy generic viagra in us
Pingback: cialis online with paypal
Pingback: sophia viagra nude
Pingback: cheap cialis for sale
Pingback: sildenafil for sale uk
Pingback: where to buy cocaine online
Pingback: cialis sample pack
Pingback: buying ammo online
Pingback: Workshop marketplace
Pingback: PREDNIKEL 2.5 – 100 ML
Pingback: cheap canadian drugs
Pingback: where to buy delta 8
Pingback: pharmacy canada online
Pingback: buy delta 8 THC
Pingback: buy telegram bot script
Pingback: canada pharmaceutical online ordering
Pingback: premium cannabis prerolls for sale
Pingback: Craft wire
Pingback: Homes For Sale In Irvine Ky
Pingback: portable toilets for sale
Pingback: best pinball machines
Pingback: Buy Medical marijuana in Ireland
Pingback: virtual visa and MasterCard buy
Pingback: virtual card buy
Pingback: canada pharmacy
Pingback: Boldenone Acetate Powder
Pingback: online pharmacy cialis cheap
Pingback: canadapharmacy.com
Pingback: defi
Pingback: pinball machines for sale kansas city
Pingback: shipping containers for sale washington
Pingback: guns for sale roanoke va
Pingback: Electronics
Pingback: their usa website
Pingback: Herbal incense
Pingback: thc vape juice
Pingback: liquid herbal incense
Pingback: Webdesign agentur
Pingback: laptop reparatur hurden
Pingback: click here
Pingback: https://trippydelics.ca
Pingback: order cocaine online
Pingback: curso ozielzinho
Pingback: MAGIC MUSHROOM GROW KIT
Pingback: psychedelic mushroom growing kit usa
Pingback: top rated essay writing services
Pingback: pure amphetamine
Pingback: writing a graduate thesis
Pingback: abstract art ideas
Pingback: buy pre written essays
Pingback: Oregon Fake driver's license
Pingback: singapore divorce lawyer
Pingback: safestore auto
Pingback: free download for windows 8
Pingback: pc games for windows 7
Pingback: download free apps apk for windows
Pingback: laptop app
Pingback: full apps download
Pingback: safestore auto
Pingback: safestore auto
Pingback: Real Estate/Construction Recruitment Firm
Pingback: Pornhome
Pingback: pit bull puppies for sale
Pingback: car detailing
Pingback: buy cialis online viagra
Pingback: no deposit free spins casino
Pingback: Dank Cartridges
Pingback: BUY BIG CHIEF EXTRACTS ONLINE
Pingback: clit vibrators
Pingback: buy cialis online viagra
Pingback: kratom for depression
Pingback: kratom for sale
Pingback: kratom back pain
Pingback: Buy vicodin online
Pingback: Louisiana Fake driver's license
Pingback: 4-AcO DMT For Sale
Pingback: best classic vibrator
Pingback: best masturbation for male
Pingback: much does cialis cost without insurance
Pingback: BUY ATIVAN 1MG
Pingback: Mzadaty Irak
Pingback: 레플리카
Pingback: Purchase Marijuana Online
Pingback: buy cialis online viagra
Pingback: software buy
Pingback: virtual visa and MasterCard buy with cryptocurrency
Pingback: buy cialis united kingdom
Pingback: cbd for sale
Pingback: buy instagram followers
Pingback: dependent visa hong kong
Pingback: white maeng da kratom
Pingback: green maeng da kratom
Pingback: buy cialis now
Pingback: red maeng da kratom
Pingback: how much does buying a condo cost?
Pingback: p spot massagers
Pingback: best cbd gummies
Pingback: Sphynx Kittens for sale
Pingback: workouts that help your sex life
Pingback: cbd oil for dogs
Pingback: best cbd for dogs
Pingback: best cbd gummies
Pingback: cbd oil for dogs
Pingback: buy cialis online viagra
Pingback: cbd for depression
Pingback: cbd near me
Pingback: voyage en cargo
Pingback: best cbd oil
Pingback: check out canada immigration news
Pingback: AnaGlobal
Pingback: venta de cialis generico en españa
Pingback: 퍼스트카지노
Pingback: 코인카지노
Pingback: 메리트카지노
Pingback: 우리카지노
Pingback: 샌즈카지노
Pingback: WHITE WIDOW DANK VAPES
Pingback: top broker
Pingback: Mabor
Pingback: kratom for sale
Pingback: buy cialis 36 hour
Pingback: Mountain bike clothing
Pingback: Gay Porn
Pingback: cialis online daily
Pingback: Mining
Pingback: medical marijuana
Pingback: beagle puppies for sale
Pingback: buy cheap cialis overnight
Pingback: plumber langley
Pingback: generic cialis with dapoxetine
Pingback: buy cialis now
Pingback: buy cheap viagra on line
Pingback: Japanese Porn
Pingback: اغانى افراح
Pingback: Google
Pingback: mature porn
Pingback: canadianpharmacy
Pingback: canada toronto cheap fase cialis
Pingback: buy cialis tadalafil tablets
Pingback: canadian pharmacy cialis 20mg
Pingback: how to buy generic cialis online
Pingback: buy cialis 36 hour
Pingback: order original cialis online
Pingback: generis cialis
Pingback: Google
Pingback: viagra
Pingback: canada pharmaceuticals online generic
Pingback: canadian drugs pharmacies online
Pingback: online pharmacy reviews
Pingback: best online pharmacy
Pingback: best online pharmacies no prescription
Pingback: viagra generic
Pingback: viagra price comparison
Pingback: how much is viagra
Pingback: how long does it take for viagra to work
Pingback: cialis and alcohol
Pingback: how long for cialis to peak
Pingback: cheap cialis
Pingback: cialis coupon
Pingback: write my paper one day
Pingback: doctoral thesis defense
Pingback: websites to buy research papers
Pingback: thesis proposal help
Pingback: custom college essay writing service
Pingback: Summary - Issue N°14 – Alternatives Humanitaires
Pingback: narrative essay writing help
Pingback: best dissertation writing
Pingback: customessaywriterbyz.com
Pingback: where can i buy essays online
Pingback: The invention of impartiality: the history of a humanitarian principle, from a legal, strategic and algorithmic perspective – Alternatives Humanitaires