Crisis Migration and Civil Wars: Analyzing the Defects of New Humanitarianism
Keywords:
Crisis migration, Humanitarian space, New humanitarianismAbstract
‘Crisis migration’ demonstrates the cross-border mobilities of people caused by existential threats in their home countries. It is often misconceived as a form of migration that is more local than transnational. In this setting, people fleeing crises like 'civil wars' constitute prima facie grounds for urgent humanitarian assistance. However, limited 'humanitarian spaces' in cross-border mobilities have drawn ambiguities about who 'humanitarianism' is supposed to serve and how it addresses the needs of ‘crisis migrants’. These situations are highly determined by the security stances of home and host states where the ‘sovereignty’ remains inconsistent
with external involvements. Accordingly, the paper examines the evolution of ‘classical humanitarianism' into 'New Humanitarianism’ (NH), which is a holistically developed concept grounded in ‘Human Security’ (HS). The main objectives of the paper are two-fold; to examine ‘crisis migration’ and to explore the problematic forms of humanitarian responses to ‘crisis migration’. It interconnects with three sub-objectives. The first is to explain the lack of conceptual clarity about the nexus between the ‘civil war’ and ‘crisis migration’. It does not examine the root causes of 'civil wars' but rather focuses on how civil war situations drive people to migrate across borders in search of protection. The second is to analyze ‘humanitarianism’ which encompasses ensuring camp security from military threats and repatriating migrants to their home countries, extending beyond the classical slant of providing care and relief. The discussion includes different debates and concepts regarding the application of ‘humanitarianism’ in ‘crisis migration. The third is questioning how the characteristics of NH are related to 'crisis migration' and how they address the humanitarian needs of crisis migrants, such as a secure environment in camps and voluntary repatriation. The key arguments constructed in the paper are exemplified through selected humanitarian initiatives implemented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Middle East and African regions.
References
Al Jazeera. (2022, October 26). Lebanon begins ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/26/lebanon-begins-voluntary-repatriation-of-syrian-refugees
Bah, A.B. (2013). The contours of new humanitarianism: War and peacebuilding in Sierra Leon. Africa Today, 60(1), 3-26. https://doi.org/10.2979/africatoday.60.1.3
Barnett, M. (2001). Humanitarianism with a sovereign face: UNHCR in the global undertow. The International Migration Review, 35(1), 244-277. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2676060
Barnett, M. (2005). Humanitarianism transformed. Perspectives on Politics, 3(4), 723–740. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3688176
Barnett, M. (2009). Evolution without progress? Humanitarianism in a world of hurt. International Organization, 63(4), 621-663. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40345951
Barnett, M. (2020). Humanitarianism and human rights: A worlds of difference. Cambridge University Press.
Bigo, D. (2002). Security and immigration: Toward a critique of the governmentality of unease. Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, 27, 63-92. https://doi.org/10.1177/03043754020270S10
Boettcher, W. (2004). Military intervention decisions regarding humanitarian crises. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 48(3), 331-355. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002704264271
Bravo, M.T. (2009). Voices from the sea ice: The reception of climate impact narratives. Journal of Historical Geography, 35(2), 256-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhg.2008.09.007
Calhoun, C. (2008). The imperative to reduce suffering: Charity, progress, and emergencies in the field of humanitarian action. In M. Barnett and & T. Weiss (Eds.), Humanitarianism in Question: Politics, Power, Ethics (pp. 73-97). Cornell University Press. https://doi.org/10.7591/9780801461538-005
Chetail, V. (2014). Are refugee rights human rights? An unorthodox questioning of the relations between refugee law and human rights law. In R. Rubio-Marín (Ed). Human Rights and Immigration (pp. 19-72). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198701170.003.0002
Chimni, B. S. (1991). Perspectives on Voluntark repatriation: A critical note. International Journal of Refugee Law, 3(3), 541-547. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/3.3.541
Chimni, B.S. (1998). The geopolitics of refugee studies: A view from the south. Journal of Refugee Studies, 11(4), 350–374. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/11.4.350-a
Churruca-Muguruza, C. (2018). The changing context of humanitarian action: Key challenges and issues. In H.J. Heintze and P. Thielbörger (Eds.), International Humanitarian Action: NOHA Textbook (pp. 3-18). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14454-2_1
Collinson, S., & Elhawary S. (2012). Humanitarian space: A review of trends and issues. Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute.
Commission on Human Security. (2003). Human security now. Commission on Human Security.
Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, (Adopted on 26 April 1954, Entered into force on 6 June 1960), article 1, UNTS 360. https://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/wp-content/uploads/1954-Convention-relating-to-the-Status-of-Stateless-Persons_ENG.pdf
Crisp, J. (2001). Mind the gap! UNHCR, humanitarian assistance and the development process. The International Migration Review, 35(1), 168-191. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2676057
Crisp, J., & Kiragu, E. (2010). Refugee Protection and International Migration: A Review of UNHCR’s Role in Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Center. (2022). The United Nations Security Council and humanitarian operations in Syria: A legal analysis. International Humanitarian Law Centre. https://www.diakonia.se/ihl/news/the-united-nations-security-council-and-humanitarian-operations-in-syria-a-legal-analysis-2/
Edkins, J. (2000). Whose hunger? Concepts of famine, practices of aid (Vol. 17). University of Minnesota Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctttsxkq
Elie, J. (2010). The historical roots of cooperation between the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration. Global Governance, 16(3), 345-360. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29764951
European Commission. (2023). Humanitarian principles. https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/who/humanitarian-principles_en
Fassin, D. (2005). Compassion and repression: The moral economy of immigration policies in France. Cultural Anthropology, 20(3), 362-387. https://doi.org/10.1525/can.2005.20.3.362
Fassin, D. (2012). Humanitarian reason: A moral history of the present. University of California Press. https://doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520271166.001.0001
Gabiam, N. (2016). Humanitarianism, development, and security in the 21st century: Lessons from the Syrian refugee crisis. International Journal of Middle East Studies, 48(2), 382- 386. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020743816000131
Goodwin-Gill, G. & McAdam, J. (1996). The refugee in international law. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/law/9780198808565.001.0001
Gundel, S. (2005). Towards a new typology of crises. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 13(3), 106-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5973.2005.00465.x
Hammerstad, A. (2011). UNHCR and the securitization of forced migration. In B. Alex & G. Loescher, Gil (Eds.), Refugees in International Relations (pp. 237-260). Oxford University Press.
Harrell-Bond, B.E. (1989). Repatriation: Under what conditions is it the most desirable solution for refugees? An Agenda for Research. African Studies Review, 32(1), 41-70. https://doi.org/10.2307/524493
Hermann, C. F. (1969). International Crisis as A Situational Variable. In J.N. Rosenau (Ed.), International Politics and Foreign Policy (pp. 409-421). Free Press.
Herrera, G., & Berg, U.D. (2019). Migration crisis and humanitarianism in Latin America: The case of Ecuador. In N. N. Sørensen, & S. Plambech (Eds.), When human welfare meets the political and security agendas (pp. 31–49). Danish Institute for International Studies. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep21445.5
Hilhorst, D. (2018). Classical humanitarianism and resilience humanitarianism: Making sense of two brands of humanitarian action.
Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 3(15), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-018-0043-6
Hilhorst, D., & Jansen, B.J. (2010). Humanitarian space as arena:
A perspective on the everyday politics of aid. Development and Change, 41(6), 1117–1139. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2010.01673.x
Human Rights Watch. (2010). Welcome to Kenya: Police abuse Somali refugees. https://www.hrw.org/report/2010/06/17/welcome-kenya/police-abuse-somali-refugees
Kalumiya, K. (2000). State sovereignty and protection of refugees and displaced persons. In S. Baldini - Guido Ravas (ed). Humanitarian Action and State Sovereignty - Refugees: A Continuing Challenge. Dragan European Foundation.
Laeken, A. V. (2021). The humanitarian paradox: Can it ever be ethically justified to withdraw aid from a humanitarian crisis? [Master’s Thesis, Ghent University]. Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent. https://libstore.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/003/013/277/RUG01-003013277_2021_0001_AC.pdf
Leebaw, B. (2007). The politics of impartial activism: Humanitarianism and human rights. Perspectives on Politics, 5(2), 223–239. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20446421
MacFarlane, N. S. (1999). The regionalization of European: Foreign and security policies. International Journal, 54(4), 537- 561. https://doi.org/10.1177/002070209905400103
Martin, S., Weerasinghe, S., & Taylor, A. (2013). Crisis migration. Brown Journal of World Affairs, 20(1), 123-137.
McAdam, J. (2013). Conceptualizing Crisis Migration (UNSW Law Research Paper No. 2013-20). https://ssrn.com/abstract=2232519
Mishali-Ram, M. (2022). International crisis in the midst of civil war. International Relations, 36(2). 307–326. https://doi.org/10.1177/00471178211052822
Mohamed-Saleem, A. (2020). Localising humanitarianism, peace making, and diplomacy: The challenges facing muslim INGOs. Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, 15(2), 178–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542316620925802
Nascimento, D.S. (2004). The inclusion of human rights in humanitarian assistance: The difficult but necessary way between theory and practice. Yearbook on Humanitarian Action and Human Rights (pp. 41-84). Universidad de Deusto.
Newman, E. (2003). Introduction and survey. In E. Newman & J. Selm (Eds), Refugees and forced displacement: International security, human vulnerability, and the state (pp. 3-31). United Nations University Press.
Nteka, N. (2021). Crisis analysis and management. Entrepreneurship, 9(1), 64-7.
Orchard, P. (2015). Refugees and internally displaced persons. In R. Mac Ginty & J.H, Peterson, (Eds.), The Routledge companion to humanitarian action (pp. 298-311). Routledge.
Oxfam International. (2024). Somali returnees from Yemen, survivors of a conflict that needs to end. https://www.oxfam.org/en/somali-returnees-yemen-survivors-conflict-needs-end
Parekh, S. (2017). Refugees and the Ethics of Forced Displacement. Routledge.
Primc, K. (2022). Challenging the shrinking humanitarian space in the European Union [Master’s Thesis, Uppsala University]. Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1684938/fulltext01.pdf
Roepstorff, K. (2020). A call for critical reflection on the localisation agenda in humanitarian action. Third World Quarterly, 41(2), 284–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2019.1644160
Rosenthal, U., Charles M.T., & Hart, P. (1989). Coping with crises: The management of disasters, riots and terrorism. Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd.
Rudolph, T.A. (2013). The securitization of humanitarian aid: A case study of the Dadaab refugee camp [Master’s Thesis, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia]. DalSpace Institutional Repository. https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/bitstream/handle/10222/38745/Rudolph-Terence-MA-IDS-November-2013.pdf?sequence=1
Slaughter, A.M. (2004). Sovereignty and power in a networked world order. Stanford Journal of International Law, 40, 283–327.
Stein, B. N. (1997). Refugee repatriation, return, and refoulement during conflict. USAID. https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pnacd092.pdf
Terry, F. (2002). Condemned to Repeat? The Paradox of Humanitarian Action. Cornell University Press.
The Humanitarian Congress Vienna. (2023). The humanitarian imperative is non-negotiable. https://humanitariancongress.at/event/the-humanitarian-imperative-is-non-negotiable/
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2019). Humanitarian principles. https://emergency.unhcr.org/protection/protection-principles/humanitarian-principles
Verdirame, G., & Harrell-Bond, B. (2005). Introduction rights in exile janus-faced humanitarianism. Berghahn Books.
Visoka, G. (2015). National NGOs. In R. Mac Ginty and J. H Peterson (Eds.), The Routledge companion to humanitarian action (pp. 267-279). Routledge.
Walters, W. (2011). Foucault and frontiers: Notes on the birth of the humanitarian border. In U. Bröckling, S. Krasmann, T. Lemke (Eds), Governmentality: Current issues and future challenges (pp. 138-164). Routledge.
Yasin, I. (2023, October 3). The Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon: Between political incitement and international law. https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-syrian-refugee-crisis-in-lebanon-between-political-incitement-and-international-law/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Social Work and Social Administration
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The manuscripts published in the Social Work Journal is the copyright of the Social Work Journal, Thammasat University
Any article or opinion appeared in the Social Work Journal will solely be under the responsibility of the author The Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University and the editors do not need to reach in agreement or hold any responsibility.
