Spaces of Aid: How Cars, Compounds and Hotels Shape Humanitarianism

by Lisa Smirl

Aid workers commonly bemoan that the experience of working in the field sits uneasily with the goals they've signed up visiting project sites in air-conditioned Land Cruisers while the intended beneficiaries walk barefoot through the heat, or checking emails from within gated compounds while surrounding communities have no running water.

Spaces of Aid provides the first book-length analysis of what has colloquially been referred to as Aid Land. It explores in depth two high-profile case studies, the Aceh tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, in order to uncover a fascinating history of the objects and spaces that have become an endemic yet unexamined part of the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Genres: Geography

264 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2015

Reviews

[SpaceBear]

Smirl's book looks at how the physical space of humanitarians impacts the success (or not) of their work. She discusses how the spaces humanitarians occupy (the landrover, the 'grand hotel', the compound) both limit and define humanitarian understandings, which leads them to conduct planning from a liminal space between 'the field' and their homes, an understanding which is built to their view, not those of the beneficiaries.

[Daniel Mardi]

Good introduction to understanding field work on ground and the intrusive nature of certain entities. Uses two great case examples. Also very well written.

[Naeem]

The language is a bit technical for the lay-reader because it meant as an academic contribution. Also, I am not sure there is anything new and exciting for those who have read, for example, Edkins' book, Whose Hunger?

But if you hang in with her, there are lots of enjoyable details. For example, the discussion of how donors see the building of houses in post-tsunami Aceh as a gift whereas the locals see them as commodities; for example, the lens of space -- hotels, compounds, SUVs - by which to examine aid is novel and insightful; for example, the discussion of the role of architectural design in the NOLA chapter is revealing.

The two best chapters (4 and 5) are her field sites and where the details are rich. Chapter 4 on Aceh is likely the highlight of the book.

Thoughtful and rich work.