Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Why Humanitarianism Doesn’t Get Religion… and Why It Needs To

  • Chapter
Faith, Secularism, and Humanitarian Engagement: Finding the Place of Religion in the Support of Displaced Communities

Part of the book series: Religion and Global Migrations ((RGM))

  • 169 Accesses

Abstract

Religion has long been a major influence on humanitarianism. However, forces of globalization, professionalization and secularization established a clear secular framing for global humanitarian action through the 20th century. This secular approach serves to confine religion to the private sphere, marginalize it from strategic influence and limit its contribution to actions that instrumentally serve secular priorities. While there is now renewed interest in establishing partnership with faith groups as a means of strengthening local humanitarian engagement, the presumptions of this secular framing continue. Charles Taylor’s analysis of secularism as a particular form of Western thought helps to locate two fundamental presumptions of contemporary humanitarianism: modernity and neutrality. These are shown to be fragile bases for formulating humanitarian strategy for the realities of the 21st century.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (1989) Convention on the Rights of the Child. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  2. FIDDIAN-QASMIYEH, E. AND PACITTTO, J. (2015) Writing the Other into Humanitarianism: A Conversation between ‘South-South’ and ‘Faith-based’ Humanitarianisms. In: SEZGIN, Z. AND Dijkzeul, D. (eds.). The New Humanitarianisms in International Practice: Emerging Actors and Contested Principles. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  3. For a fuller discussion of the role of religion in the history of humanitarianism, see: CALHOUN, C. (2008) The Imperative to Reduce Suffering: Charity, Progress, and Emergencies in the Field of Humanitarian Action. In: BARNETT, M. AND WEISS, T. G. (eds.). Humanitarianism in Question: Politics, Power, Ethics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press;

    Google Scholar 

  4. STAMATOV, P. (2010) Activist Religion, Empire, and the Emergence of Modern Long-Distance Advocacy Networks. American Sociological Review, 75 (4), pp. 607–628; and

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. BARNETT, M. N. AND STEIN, J. G. (2012) Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. DUNANT, H. (1939) A Memory of Solferino. (English Translation). Geneva: International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

    Google Scholar 

  7. DUNANT, H. (1939) A Memory of Solferino, p. 97.

    Google Scholar 

  8. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  9. MARITAIN, J. (1949) Introduction. In: UNESCO (eds.). Human Rights: Comments and Interpretations. London, New York: Allan Wingate.

    Google Scholar 

  10. MARITAIN, J. (1949), Human Rights, p. 10.

    Google Scholar 

  11. BARNETT, M. N. (2012) Faith in the Machine: Humanitarianism in an Age of Bureaucratization. In: BARNETT, M. N. AND STEIN, J. G. (eds.). Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  12. BHARGAVA, R. (1994) Giving Secularism Its Due. Economic and Political Weekly, 29, pp. 1784–1791.

    Google Scholar 

  13. VER BEEK, K. A. (2000) Spirituality: A Development Taboo. Development in Practice, 10 (1), pp. 31–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. TYNDALE, W. (ed.) (2006) Visions of Development: Faith-based Initiatives. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  15. PARRIS, M. (2008) As an atheist I truly believe Africa needs God. The Times, 27 December, p. 17.

    Google Scholar 

  16. KARAM, A. (2012) Religion, Development and the United Nations. New York: SSRC.

    Google Scholar 

  17. UNITED NATIONS. (2015) Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015. New York: United Nations. Available from: www.un.org/millenniumgoals/.

    Google Scholar 

  18. UNICEF. (2012) Partnering with Religious Communities for Children. New York: UNICEF. Please see also the recent overview of this broad transition in thinking by

    Google Scholar 

  19. TOMALIN, E. (ed.) (2015) The Routledge Handbook of Religions and Global Development. Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  20. FIDDIAN-QASMIYEH, E. (ed.) (2011) Introduction: Faith-based Humanitarianism in Contexts of Forced Displacement. Journal of Refugee Studies, 24 (3) pp. 429–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. UNHCR. (2012) Report of High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Faith and Protection. Geneva: UNHCR. Available from: http://www.unhcr.org/50aa5b879.pdf [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  22. DFID. (2012) Faith Partnership Principles. Working Effectively with Faith Groups to Fight Global Poverty. London: DFID. Available from: http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67352/faithpartnership-principles.pdf [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  23. SCHOLTZ, I. (2014) BMZ Charter for the Future—New Development Goals. Bonn: German Development Institute (GDI). Available from: http://www.die-gdi.de/en/the-current-column/article/bmz-charter-for-the-future-newdevelopment-goals/ [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  24. PEW RESEARCH CENTER. (2012) The Global Religious Landscape: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Major Religious Groups as of 2010. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life. Available from: http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religiouslandscape-exec/.

    Google Scholar 

  25. SHAH, S. T., STEPHAN, A. C. AND DUFFY-TOFT, M. (2012) Rethinking Religion and World Affairs. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  26. CALHOUN, C., JUERGENSMEYER, M. AND VAN ANTWERPEN, J. (2011) Rethinking Secularism. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  27. HABERMAS, J. (ed.) (2010) An Awareness of What Is Missing: Faith and Reason in a Post-secular Age. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  28. TAYLOR, C. (2007) A Secular Age. Boston: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  29. TAYLOR, C. (2007) A Secular Age, p. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  30. BHARGAVA, R. (2005) Secularism and Its Critics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  31. AGER, A. AND AGER, J. (2011) Faith and the Discourse of Secular Humanitarianism. Journal of Refugee Studies, 24 (3), pp. 456–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. The elaboration of this thesis is reflected in many works of the 20th century, including: WEBER, M. (1904, 1930) The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. New York: Scribner;

    Google Scholar 

  33. BERGER, P. L. (1967) The Sacred Canopy. Garden City, NY: Doubleday; and

    Google Scholar 

  34. WILSON, B. R. (1966) Religion in Secular Society. London: C.A. Watts.

    Google Scholar 

  35. For a detailed account, see Carole Rakodi’s chapter on ‘Development, Region and Modernity’. In: TOMALIN, E. (ed.) (2015) The Routledge Handbook of Religions and Global Development. Routledge: Abingdon, pp. 17–35.

    Google Scholar 

  36. PEW RESEARCH CENTER. (2012) The Global Religious Landscape.

    Google Scholar 

  37. We recognize that many international agencies headquartered in the global north have committed strongly to recruitment and promotion of staff of diverse nationalities. However, the language and culture of such organizations continue to largely reflect Eurocentric values (see, e.g. BARNETT, M. N. AND STEIN, J. G. (2012) Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism. New York: Oxford University Press and

    Book  Google Scholar 

  38. AGER, A. AND IACOVOU, M. (2014) The Co-construction of Medical Humanitarianism: Analysis of Personal, Organizationally Condoned Narratives from an Agency Website. Social Science and Medicine, 120, pp. 430–438 ).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. TAYLOR, C. (2007) A Secular Age, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  40. WOLFENSOHN, J. A Proposal on a Comprehensive Development Framework. A Statement to the Board, Management and Staff of the World Bank Group, 21 January 1999. Available from: http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website01013/WEB/0__CO-87.HTM [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  41. WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT. (2014) WHS General Briefing, 2014. Slide 8. Available from www.undg.org.

    Google Scholar 

  42. BROWN, D., DONINI, A. AND KNOX CLARKE, P. (2014) Engagement of Crisis-Affected People in Humanitarian Action. Background Paper ofALNAP’s 29th Annual Meeting. Addis Ababa: ALNAP/ODI. Available from: http://www.alnap.org/resource/10439.aspx [Accessed: 30 March 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  43. EL NAKIB, S. AND AGER, A. (2015) The Engagement of Local Faith Groups and Other Civil Society Organizations in Humanitarian Response to with Syrian Refugees in Irbid, Jordan. Report to the Henry Luce Foundation. New York: Columbia University.

    Google Scholar 

  44. MBITI, J. (1989) African Religions and Philosophy ( 2nd edition ). Oxford: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  45. AGER, A. AND AGER, J. (2011) Faith and the Discourse of Secular Humanitarianism, pp. 462–464.

    Google Scholar 

  46. PRITCHETT, L., WOOLCOCK, M. AND ANDREWS, M. (2010) Capability Traps? The Mechanisms of Persistent Implementation Failure. CGD Working Paper 234. Washington, DC: Center for Global Development.

    Google Scholar 

  47. SHAH, S. T., ET AL. (2012) Rethinking Religion, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  48. HABERMAS, J. (ed.) (2010) An Awareness of What Is Missing, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  49. BARNETT, M. N. AND STEIN, J. G. (2012) Sacred Aid, p. 22.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  50. HEWITT, C. (2003) Understanding Terrorism in America: From the Klan to Al Qaeda. New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  51. IFRC. Promoting the Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Values: Neutrality. Available: http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/vision-andmission/the-seven-fundamental-principles/neutrality/ [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  52. FIDDIAN-QASMIYEH, E. AND AGER, A. (eds.) (2013) Local Faith Communities and the Promotion of Resilience in Humanitarian Situations: A Scoping Study. Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities and University of Oxford Refugee Studies Centre, Working Paper 90. Oxford: RSC.

    Google Scholar 

  53. HAP (2014) The Common Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability. Groupe URD, HAP International, People in Aid and the Sphere Project. Available from: http://www.hapinternational.org/what-we-do/the-corehumanitarian-standard.aspx [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  54. HOLY LAND CHRISTIAN ECUMENICAL FOUNDATION (2012) Lutheran World Federation Plays Prominent Role in UN Refugee Work. Wednesday

    Google Scholar 

  55. ELIADE, M. AND KITAGAWA, J. M. (eds.) (1959) The History of Religions: Essays in Methodology. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  56. SABBATUCCI, D. (1988) Kultur und religion. In: CANCIK, H., GLADIGOW, B. AND LAUBSCHER, M. (eds.) Handbuch Religionwissenschafltlicher Grundbegriffe. Vol 1. Stuggart: W. Kohlhammer, p. 46;

    Google Scholar 

  57. DUBUISSON, D. (1998) L’Occident et la religion. Mythe, science et ideologie. Brussels: Edition Complex;

    Google Scholar 

  58. FITZGERALD, T. (2000) The Ideology of Religious Studies. New York: Oxford University Press;

    Google Scholar 

  59. FEIL, E. (2001) Religio: Die Geschichte eines neuzeitlichen Grundbegriffs vom Fruhchristentum bis zur Reformation. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht; 3 vols, 1986–2001.

    Google Scholar 

  60. HEIBERT, P. (1982) The Flaw of the Excluded Middle. Missiology: An International Review, 10 (1), pp. 35–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. BOFF, L. (1983) The Lord’s Prayer: The Prayer of Integral Liberation. Maryhill: Orbis.

    Google Scholar 

  62. MACINTYRE, A. (1981) After Virtue. London: Duckworth.

    Google Scholar 

  63. THOMAS, S. M. (2005) The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations: The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century. New York: Palgrave Macmillan;

    Book  Google Scholar 

  64. SHAKMAN HURD, E. (2007) The Politics of Secularism in International Relations. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  65. THOMAS, S. M. (2005) The Global Resurgence of Religion.

    Google Scholar 

  66. DUFFY-TOFT, M. D., PHILPOTT, D. AND SHAH, T. S. (2011) God’s Century: Resurgent Religion and Global Politics. New York: W. W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  67. For a concise introduction to Taylor’s analysis of this issue, see TAYLOR, C. (2010) The Meaning of Secularism, The Hedgehog Review, 12 (3). Available from: http://www.iasc-culture.org/THR/THR_article_2010_Fall_Taylor.php [Accessed: 25 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  68. See the elaboration of this argument in TAYLOR, C. (2011) Why We Need a Radical Redefinition of Secularism, pp. 34–59. In: MENDIETA, E. AND VAN ANTWERPEN, J. (eds.). The Power of Religion in the Public Sphere. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  69. THOMAS, S. M. (2005) The Global Resurgence of Religion.

    Google Scholar 

  70. DENEULIN, S. AND BANO, M. (2009) Religion in Development: Rewriting the Secular Script. London: Zed Books, p. 156.

    Google Scholar 

  71. CLARKE, G. (2006) Faith Matters: Faith-based Organisations, Civil Society and International Development. Journal of International Development, 18 (6), pp. 835–848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. For example, BOSWELL, J. (1980) Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  73. NUSSBAUM, M. (2000) Women and Human Development. The Capabilities Approach. New York: Cambridge University Press, p. 181.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  74. INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS GROUP. (2013) Child Protection in the Islamic Context: Rights, Mechanisms, and Practices in Islamic Law and Society, Working Paper Series. No. 2013–01. Washington, DC, US: ISG.

    Google Scholar 

  75. MYERS, B. L. (1999) Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Maryknoll: Orbis.

    Google Scholar 

  76. HOLENSTEIN, A. (2005) Role and Significance of Religion and Spirituality in Development Co-operation, Bern: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, p. 28.

    Google Scholar 

  77. MACINTYRE, A. (1988) Whose Justice? Which Rationality? Notre Dame, IN: UNDP, p. 387.

    Google Scholar 

  78. DENEULIN, S. AND BANO, M. (2009) Religion in Development, p. 165.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK

    Alastair Ager (Director, Professor of Population and Family Health)

  2. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA

    Alastair Ager (Director, Professor of Population and Family Health)

  3. San Diego Organizing Project, USA

    Joey Ager (Community Organizer)

Authors
  1. Alastair Ager
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joey Ager
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2015 Alastair Ager and Joey Ager

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ager, A., Ager, J. (2015). Why Humanitarianism Doesn’t Get Religion… and Why It Needs To. In: Faith, Secularism, and Humanitarian Engagement: Finding the Place of Religion in the Support of Displaced Communities. Religion and Global Migrations. Palgrave Pivot, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137472144_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation