Hugo Slim
Hugo Slim is chief scholar at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland. Previously he was Reader in Internationalism at Oxford Brookes University, on the council of Oxfam GB and worked for Save the Children UK and the United Nations in Sudan, Ethiopia, Morocco and the Palestinian Territories. His new book "Killing Civilians: Method, Madness and Morality in War" is published by Hurst and Co in September 2007.
Viewing the poor through Western eyes
In global campaigns on issues like landmines, trade, medicines or small arms, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) face dilemmas of control. How much of the management and publicity of a campaign should they keep and how much should they give away? While global civil society is still nascent, the international NGOs behind these major and very visual campaigns look more like epic colonial film makers - directing great oriental crowd scenes in which large groups of colourful local actors wave fair trade banners on cue and synchronise their demonstrations for prime time news slots around the time zones of the world. ...
Do aid agencies pull too many strings?
Much civil society in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East is extremely courageous. And a lot of it is in prison. Most Western non-governmental organisations want a strong - essentially liberal - civil society in any country where they work. ...
What happens to governments when aid agencies are around?
Most international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) want a strong efficient state. It is central to their liberal politics. The enlightened authority and capacity of such a state is crucial in delivering the things most NGOs care about: pre-planned and well coordinated disaster relief; enlightened policy and efficient delivery in health and education; the rule of law and the protection of rights; fair and free markets for economic exchange and the creation of wealth. ...
White Toyota, white aid
When I was in Liberia last year, I decided to walk the two kilometres from the market town I was visiting to the NGO (non-governmental organisation) team house where I was staying. As I walked, several 4x4 vehicles resplendent in the flags, logos and radio masts of international NGOs sped past me spraying dust into my face. This was a rightful taste of my own medicine. In my several years as a humanitarian worker in the 1980s, my car had done the same to thousands of Ethiopian and Sudanese people. ...
