MD546/646: Humanitarian Aid: Responding to Disasters and Refugees (4 units)

Dr. Bryant Myers, Professor of International Development
Spring 2006 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

This course explores the plight of refugees and internally displaced people fleeing the results of conflict and natural disasters. The humanitarian response is explored from a number of perspectives, including a biblical perspective. The changing and highly complex nature of the humanitarian world is explored, seeking to identify the role and contribution of Christian agencies and churches.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• History and development of the humanitarian response
• Biblical framework for refugees and Catholic social teaching on care of refugees
• Survey and critique of humanitarian actors
• Survey of the changing, increasingly complex world, of humanitarian response -- ethics and hard choices
• Case material from Rwanda, Afghanistan, Southern Africa, Asia Tsunami, Darfur and Niger
• Introduction to the basic element of relief preparedness and response
• Relief in the context of conflicts; understanding conflict and a bias toward peace building
• The care and feeding of the relief practitioner -- stress, security and spirituality

COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet as a two-week intensive, April 10 to April 21, for 3-hour sessions per weekday. A presentation, case study and discussion format will be used, with occasional use of small groups.

REQUIRED READING: (1300 pages) If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Tufts University, “Ambiguity and Change: Humanitarian NGOs Prepare for the Future,” Boston, MA: Feinstein International Famine Centre, Tufts University, August 2004.
Myers, Bryant. “Humanitarian Response: Christians in Response to Uprooted Peoples,” paper written for the Holistic Mission track of Lausanne 2004. (In Reader)
Minear, Larry. The Humanitarian Enterprise: Dilemmas and Discoveries. Kumarian, 2002.
Lindenberg, Mark and Bryant, Coralie. Going Global: Transforming the Relief and Development NGOs. Kumarian, 2001.
Ignatieff, Michael. A Warrior’s Honor: Ethnic War and the Modern Conscience. Henry Holt, 1997.
Myers, Bryant, Walking With the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development.. Orbis (NY) 1999. Chapters 2, 3, 5 and 6.
de Waal, Alex. Famine Crimes: Politics and the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa. Indiana University Press, 1997. Chapters 1-4, 7, 9, 10. (On reserve in library)
Terry, Fiona. Condemned to Repeat: The Paradox of Humanitarian Action. Cornell University Press, 2002. Introduction and chapters 1, 5 and 6. (On reserve in library)
Anderson, Mary. Do No Harm: How Aid Can Support Peace – Or War. Lynne Rienner, 1999, Chapters 1-6. (On reserve in library)
Macrae, Joanna. “The New Humanitarianisms: A Review of Trends in Global Humanitarian Action,” HPG Report 11, April 2002. Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute (UK). Download from http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/publications_reports.html
Macrae, Joanna and Hamer, Adele. “Humanitarian Action and the Global War on Terrorism: A Review of Trends and Issues,” HPG Report 14, July 2003. Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute (UK). Download from http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/publications_reports.html
The Sphere Project. “Code of Conduct for ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief,” The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. 2004 Edition. Can be ordered from Amazon.com. (On reserve at the library)
Course reader.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Janz, Mark and Slead, Joann. Complex Humanitarian Emergencies Lessons from Practitioners, MARC/World Vision, 2000.
Rieff, David. A Bed for the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis. Simon and Schuster, 2002.
UNHCR, State of the World’s Refugees 2004, Oxford University Press, 2005.
International Federation of the Red Cross, World Disasters Report, 2005.
US Committee on Refugees, World Refugee Survey, 2005.
Cluny, Fred. Famine, Conflict and Response: A Basic Guide, INTERTECT 1994.
Slim, Hugo. “Doing the Right Thing: Relief Agencies, Moral Dilemmas and Moral Responsibility in Political Emergencies and War,” Studies in Emergencies and Disaster Relief, No. 6. Nodiska Africainstitutet, 1997.
Whaites, Alan. “NGOs, Disasters and Advocacy: Caught between the Prophet and the Shepherd Boy”, Development in Practice (Oxfam), Vol 10, No 3 and 4, 2000. (In “Debating Development,” an Oxfam Development in Practice reader on reserve in library)
Slim, Hugo. “Sharing the Universal Ethic: The Principle of Humanity in War,” International Journal of Human Rights, June, 1998. (On reserve in library)
Charles Rogers and Brian Sytsma. World Vision Security Manual: Safety Awareness for Aid Workers, World Vision 1999.
Fawcett, John (Ed.). Stress and Trauma Handbook: Strategies for Flourishing in Demanding Contexts. World Vision 2003.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• In teams of 4-6, students will do a presentation and lead a discussion afterwards (total one-hour) on a humanitarian organization. The purpose is to summarize and critique the 1) origins and motivations, 2) specialisms, and 3) explicit and implicit understanding of causes of refugees and theory of humanitarian based on the materials on its website. The following will be assigned on the first day of class: Oxfam, CARE, Médicin Sans Frontièrs/Doctors Without Borders, Catholic Relief Services and United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR).

• A 3000 to 3750-word paper showing connections to course material on a topic related to the course, agreed to by the professor. Paper format: MS Word, 11 point Gil Sans or other readable type. Electronic version only emailed to professor. One-grade reduction for each week paper is late. Grade based equally on quality of research, connections to course materials and quality of writing.

ThM Students additional assignment: 1250-word paper describing a substantive addition to or criticism of the lecture material on a theology of refugees and relief. Subject to be agreed to by professor. Format: MS Word, 11 point Gil Sans or other readable type. Electronic version only emailed to professor. One-grade reduction for each week paper is late.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Date Edited: February 2, 2006