International humanitarian NGOs and state relations : politics, principles, and identity / Andrew J. Cunningham.

States and international humanitarian organisations : principles, politics, and identity -- The relationship of the external in the internal -- The case of M�edecins Sans Fronti�eres and the government of Sri Lanka 2006-2007 -- The case of M�edecins Sans Fronti�eres and the government of Sri Lanka 2008-2009 -- Fear as discourse : the case of Chechnya -- Law as discourse : the case of Ethiopia -- Expulsion as discourse : the case of Sudan -- Responses to securitisation -- Politics, principles, and identity -- The future.

"International Humanitarian NGOs and State Relations: Politics, principles, and identity examines the often discordant relationship between states and international non-governmental organisations working in the humanitarian sector. INGOs aiming to provide assistance to populations suffering from the consequences of conflicts and other human-made disasters work in the midst of very politically sensitive local dynamics. The involvement of these non-political international actors can be seen as a threat to states which see civil war as a state of exception where it is the government's prerogative to act outside of 'normal' legal or moral boundaries. Drawing on first hand experience of humanitarian operations in contexts of civil war, this book explores how the relationship works in practice, and how often clashing priorities can be mediated. Using case studies of civil conflicts in Sri Lanka, Darfur, Ethiopia, and Chechnya, this practice-based book brings together key issues of politics, principles, and identity to build a 'negotiation structure' for analysing and understanding the relationship. The book goes on to outline a research and policy development agenda for INGOS to better adapt politically to working with states. International Humanitarian NGOs and State Relations will be a key resource for professionals and policy makers working within international humanitarian operations, as well as for academics and students within humanitarian and development studies who want to understand the relationship between states and humanitarian organisations"-- Provided by publisher.