04:30 PM to 07:10 PM W
Music Theater Building 1006
Section Information for Spring 2023
International humanitarian action has been criticized at multiple levels. Critics have highlighted historic links between humanitarian action and colonization, and pointed to a paternalistic posture on the part of humanitarians, and in turn, a failure to appreciate crisis-affected populations’ histories and knowledge. International humanitarian action has also faced criticism for paying insufficient attention to the possibility of harmful consequences in the wake of interventions. Third, critics raise questions about the proper scope of humanitarian obligations, especially in contexts where crises are chronic, arguing that humanitarian interventions should do more to assess social and structural determinants of health crises and consider how the logic of rescue can obscure historic injustices, and even worsen inequities. These critiques point to ethical tensions with humanitarian intervention and a need for reflection on future policy and practice. This class will examine these critiques and a range of philosophical ideas on how humanitarians can better contribute to global health justice in their operations and policies. Particular attention will be given to the problem of epistemic injustice in humanitarian health interventions and strategies for epistemic reparations, that is, taking the knowledge of crisis-affected communities more seriously and even prioritizing it.
Credits: 3
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