Biopolitics, Governmentality and Humanitarianism : 'Caring' for the Population in Afghanistan and Belarus

This book critically analyses the changing role and nature of post-Cold War humanitarianism, using Foucault''s theories of biopolitics and governmentality.

This book interprets the policies and practices associated with the new humanitarianism in general, as well as the dynamics of two specific international assistance efforts: the post-2001 conflict-related assistance effort in Afghanistan and the post-2000 Chernobyl-related assistance effort in Belarus. The book thereby demonstrates that it is possible to generate a powerful and insightful interpretation of the changing role and nature of humanitarian action, and, in so doing, to better understand contemporary humanitarianism, as well as identifying resistances to it and envisaging alternative ways of addressing humanitarian concerns.

Making an important contribution to existing scholarship on humanitarianism, the changing nature of post-Cold War humanitarian action, and Foucault, this book will be of much interest to students of critical security studies, humanitarianism, governmentality, and IR more generally.

This book critically analyses the changing role and nature of post-Cold War humanitarianism, using Foucault''s theories of biopolitics and governmentality.

It offers a compelling and insightful interpretation of the policies and practices associated with ‘new humanitarianism in general, as well as of the dynamics of two specific international assistance efforts: the post-2001 conflict-related assistance effort in Afghanistan and the post-2000 Chernobyl-related assistance effort in Belarus.

The central argument of the book is that ‘new’ humanitarianism represents a dominant regime of humanitarian governing informed by globalising neoliberalism and is reliant on a complex set of biopolitical, disciplinary and sovereign technologies. It demonstrates that, while the purposes of humanitarian governing are specific to particular contexts, its promise of care is more often than not accompanied by sovereign and/or biopolitical violences.

Making an important contribution to existing scholarship on humanitarian emergencies and humanitarian action, on biopolitics and governmentality, this book will be of much interest to students and scholars of humanitarianism, critical security studies, governmentality and International Relations generally.