"Routledge Focus"--Cover. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents:
Introduction: why secular-religious dynamics matter in the humanitarian system -- The secular humanitarian system -- How people affected by disaster understand religious dynamics in the humanitarian system -- How humanitarians experience secular dynamics in the humanitarian system -- Evolving secular-religious dynamics in the humanitarian system.
Summary:
"This book investigates the ways in which the humanitarian system is secular and responds to religious beliefs and practices when responding to disasters. The book teases out the reasons why humanitarians are reluctant to engage with what is seen as 'messy' cultural dynamics within the communities they work with, and how this can lead to strained or broken relationships with disaster-affected populations and irrelevant and inappropriate disaster assistance that imposes distant and relatively meaningless values. In order to interrogate secular boundaries within humanitarian response, the book draws particularly on qualitative primary data from the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The case study shows how religious practices and beliefs strongly influence people's disaster experience, yet humanitarian organisations often failed to recognise or engage with this. Whilst secularity in the humanitarian system does not completely exclude religious participation and expression, it does create biases and boundaries. Many humanitarians view their secularity as essential to their position of impartiality and cultural sensitivity in comparison to what was seen as the biased and unprofessional beliefs and practices of religions and religious actors, even though disaster-affected people felt that it was the secular humanitarians that were less impartial and culturally sensitive. This empirically driven examination of the role of secularity within humanitarianism will be of interest to the growing field of 'pracademic' researchers across NGOs, government, consultancy, and think tanks, as well as researchers working directly within academic institutions"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.