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NGOs, Disaster Relief and Asset Transfer in the Horn: Political Survival in a Permanent Emergency

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  • Mark Duffield

Abstract

Famines have winners and losers. Conventional analysis has concentrated on the losers: what has been neglected is that famines can result from the conscious exercise of power in pursuit of gain or advantage by the politically strong. This article is an attempt to analyse the process of political survival in the context of permanent emergency. Through examples of local asset transfer, and indicating how this process articulates with a wider regional parallel economy, the paper offers an analysis of political survival in the arc of crisis that runs from Sudan through southern Ethiopia to Somalia. The role of donors and NGOs is examined in terms of how they relate to the weak and the strong within the asset transfer economy. Donors are seen to have supported the strong whilst the position of NGOs is more contradictory. Although programme measures to protect assets have been developed, and the disjuncture between the rules of sovereignty and the protection of human rights has been highlighted, these measures have essentially failed. A review of trends since the end of the Cold War suggests that the chances of preventing the further consolidation of a transfer economy within the region are negligible. The position of those who gain from such a destructive se the process of political survival in the context of permanent emergency. Through examples of local asset transfer, and indicating how this process articulates with a wider regional parallel economy, the paper offers an analysis of political survival in the arc of crisis that runs from Sudan through southern Ethiopia to Somalia. The role of donors and NGOs is examined in terms of how they relate to the weak and the strong within the asset transfer economy. Donors are seen to have supported the strong whilst the position of NGOs is more contradictory. Although programme measures to protect assets have been developed, and the disjuncture between the rules of sovereignty and the protection of human rights has been highlighted, these measures have essentially failed. A review of trends since the end of the Cold War suggests that the chances of preventing the further consolidation of a transfer economy within the region are negligible. The position of those who gain from such a destructive process seems assured.

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  • Mark Duffield, 1993. "NGOs, Disaster Relief and Asset Transfer in the Horn: Political Survival in a Permanent Emergency," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 24(1), pages 131-158, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devchg:v:24:y:1993:i:1:p:131-158
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7660.1993.tb00480.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Keith Griffin, 1991. "Foreign Aid after the Cold War," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 22(4), pages 645-685, October.
    2. Taylor, Daphne S., 1992. "Implications of the Uruguay Round for food aid," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 141-149, April.
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    1. Des Gasper, 1993. "Entitlements Analysis: Relating Concepts and Contexts," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 24(4), pages 679-718, October.
    2. Komikouma Apelike Wobuibe Neglo & Tnsue Gebrekidan & Kaiyu Lyu, 2021. "The Role of Agriculture and Non-Farm Economy in Addressing Food Insecurity in Ethiopia: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Kirstie Méheux & Dale Dominey-Howes & Kate Lloyd, 2007. "Natural hazard impacts in small island developing states: A review of current knowledge and future research needs," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 40(2), pages 429-446, February.
    4. Susan Banki, 2009. "Contested Regimes, Aid Flows, and Refugee Flows: The Case of Burma," Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 28(2), pages 47-73.

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