Humanitarian organisations have always realised that their activities have geopolitical consequences and that they are inseparably linked to the political world. However, since the 1990’s, humanitarian organisations have increasingly begun acting upon this awareness (Barnett 2005: 724). The watershed for this transformation from minimalist assistance provision to goal-oriented humanitarianism, was the decision of numerous humanitarian organisations to pull out of Rwandan refugee camps in Zaire. The argument was that these camps were being used by Hutu genocidaires to launch violent attacks on Rwandan soil (Fox 2001: 279-280, 285-288). The shift to goal-oriented humanitarianism has resulted in “a broad trend towards an increased use of humanitarian assistance as part of a more comprehensive strategy to transform conflicts and decrease the violence” (Uvin 1999: 8). This paper identifies three strategies in which humanitarian organisations can address the root causes of conflict in the 21st century: disaster risk reduction (DRR), the decision to withhold or focus aid in specific areas, and speaking out. DRR is usually executed pre-conflict or during periods of reduced violence, whilst the latter two are relevant at the time of conflict.
The main aims of this paper are to examine the phenomenon of civil war from a geopolitical perspective and identifying variables linked to both the onset and duration of civil conflict, specifically in the case of Colombia. The conclusions drawn here should assist humanitarian organisations present in Colombia, in identifying ways to implement the above three mentioned strategies so as to address the root causes of civil war. Halting conflict and preventing future reoccurrence of civil war is in the direct interest of Colombian based humanitarian organisations, as many of them work with internally displaced persons (IDPs). As Ibáñez and Vélez (2008: 672) note: “Violence and security perceptions are the major determinants of displacement and are, therefore, the key instruments in preventing displacement.”
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Colombia’s Civil War: Historical Context, Actors and Impacts
- Using the IRLR Model in Addressing both Humanitarian Needs and the Causes of Conflict
- Grievance Theories of Civil War
- Greed Theories of Civil War
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the phenomenon of civil war in Colombia, specifically focusing on the geopolitical factors that contribute to its onset and duration. The main objective is to identify strategies that humanitarian organizations can employ to address the root causes of conflict in the 21st century. These strategies include disaster risk reduction (DRR), the selective allocation of aid, and advocacy efforts. The paper draws upon key concepts from the civil conflict literature, namely “grievance” and “greed” theories, to explore the factors contributing to Colombia’s civil war. The aim is to provide insights for humanitarian organizations operating in Colombia to develop more effective strategies for alleviating the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. Key themes covered in this paper include:- The historical context and actors involved in Colombia’s civil war
- The impact of the conflict on civilian populations, particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs)
- The application of the impoverishment risk and livelihood reconstruction (IRLR) model to address humanitarian needs and conflict root causes
- The role of “grievance” and “greed” theories in understanding the onset and duration of civil war in Colombia
- The potential of humanitarian organizations to implement strategies based on these theories to mitigate the conflict and its consequences.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter outlines the shift towards goal-oriented humanitarianism, specifically the response to the Rwandan genocide. It identifies three key strategies for addressing conflict root causes: DRR, selective aid allocation, and advocacy. The paper focuses on Colombia's civil war and its implications for humanitarian organizations working with IDPs.
- Colombia’s Civil War: Historical Context, Actors and Impacts: This chapter examines the historical roots of Colombia’s civil war, highlighting the role of political divisions between the Conservative and Liberal parties, the emergence of left-wing guerrilla movements (ELN and FARC), and the rise of right-wing paramilitary groups. It also analyzes the influence of the global drug trade, the end of the Cold War, and the 9/11 attacks on the conflict, as well as the significant humanitarian crisis caused by internal displacement.
- Using the IRLR Model in Addressing both Humanitarian Needs and the Causes of Conflict: This chapter introduces Cernea’s impoverishment risk and livelihood reconstruction (IRLR) model and Muggah’s adaptation to conflict scenarios. The IRLR model provides a framework for identifying areas of focus for humanitarian organizations addressing displacement-related issues, such as landlessness, joblessness, homelessness, and economic marginalization. The chapter highlights the potential for connecting these areas of focus to variables identified in the “greed” and “grievance” theories of civil war.
- Grievance Theories of Civil War: This chapter delves into the “grievance” perspective on civil war, focusing on works by Stewart and Gurr. It explores the concept of “horizontal inequalities” as a key driver of conflict, particularly in relation to ethno-linguistic and religious divisions. The chapter analyzes the relevance of “grievance” theories to the Colombian conflict, considering the role of land disputes, economic marginalization, political violence, and the potential for interpreting group identity within the “micro-orders” where conflict arises.
- Greed Theories of Civil War: This chapter examines the “greed” perspective on civil war, focusing on the work of Collier and Hoeffler. This perspective argues that civil war is driven by economic opportunities for rebels, specifically through the control of “lootable resources.” The chapter explores the application of Collier and Hoeffler’s model to Colombia, considering the role of the drug trade, the influence of economic factors on recruitment, and the potential for humanitarian organizations to address these variables through development strategies and education initiatives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the complex interplay of humanitarian action, geopolitics, and civil conflict in Colombia. The primary themes investigated include goal-oriented humanitarianism, disaster risk reduction (DRR), impoverishment risk and livelihood reconstruction (IRLR) model, “grievance” theories, “greed” theories, internally displaced persons (IDPs), land inequality, economic marginalization, political violence, the Colombian drug trade, and the role of “micro-orders” in shaping group identity and conflict dynamics.- Quote paper
- Ralph Myers (Author), 2011, Goal-Oriented Humanitarianism and Colombia’s Civil War, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/215493
