Fall 2014

Politics of Humanitarian Aid

Listed in: Anthropology and Sociology, as ANTH-305

Faculty

Amy C. Hall (Section 01)

Description

Over the past two decades, humanitarian aid has been put forward as a mechanism for promoting global change. Foundations such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and organizations such as Doctors Without Borders have become household names. Hollywood films such as Blood Diamond, Hotel Rwanda, and Lost Boys of Sudan offer emotional testimony that wills us to “do something.”  Although humanitarianism has existed in some form for centuries through mission work and scientific expeditions, this course examines the growing debate over the philosophical, moral, political, cultural and operational practices of such interventions. This course will explore the purposes, missions and effectiveness of humanitarian aid and the various approaches taken by activists, missionaries, lawyers, social scientists, and filmmakers to understand its many challenges.

Limited to 20 students.  Fall semester.  Visiting Professor Hall.

ANTH 305 - L/D

Section 01
Tu 02:30 PM - 03:50 PM MERR 401
Th 02:30 PM - 03:50 PM MERR 401

ISBN Title Publisher Author(s) Comment Book Store Price
Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World Escobar Amherst Books TBD
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time Mortenson & Relin Amherst Books TBD
Condemned to Repeat?: The Paradox of Humanitarian Action Terry Amherst Books TBD
The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster Katz Amherst Books TBD

These books are available locally at Amherst Books.

Offerings

2024-25: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2014