Do No Harm: How Aid Can Support Peace--Or War

by Anderson

Echoing the words of the Hippocratic Oath, the author challenges aid agency staff to take responsibility for the ways that their assistance affects conflicts. Mary B. Anderson cites the experiences of many aid providers in war-torn societies to show that international assistance - even when it is effective in saving lives, alleviating suffering and furthering sustainable development - too often reinforces divisions among contending groups. But more importantly, she offers hopeful evidence of creative programmes that point the way to new approaches to aid. Calling for a redesign of assistance programmes so that they do not harm while doing their intended good, she argues futher that many opportunities exist for aid workers to in fact support the processes by which societies disengage from war.

Genres: Nonfiction, International Development, Politics

161 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting approach to aid interventions and highlights the importance of understanding the local context. However, more needs to be done. For example, Anderson notes that aid workers should be aware of local realities, a peoples capacity for peace and conflict, and the underlying causes of conflict. Yet there is little if any discussion of the ways in which aid workers should understand their own assumptions and how those impact conflict. Either way, it is a good step in the right direction for context-sensitive and appropriate international (and intercultural) interventions.

[Tinea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is gratifying to read books that were critical interventions into a field perhaps 10, 15 years ago that now read as outdated, citing ridiculous and obvious cases as data to back up a premise that has now been widely accepted, mainstreamed, and incorporated into minimum standards and best practices. Don't get me wrong: aid harms, and continues to harm. Happily, maybe (??), in new and diverse ways. Probably still in these ways too, but rarer.

For those studying up, replace this book by Peaceland: Conflict Resolution and the Everyday Politics of International Intervention.

[Magila · Rating 4 out of 5]

if this is your cup of tea, 5. what if aid work screws things up? that's a question most bright-eyed and bushy-tailed folks ignore. this doesn't sugar coat the effects international aid can have, but that also doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't have a place. or does it? def makes you think.

[G Barahona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important. Necessary for for anyone interested in international development. Anderson presents useful examples and case studies of unintended consequences in the field. She also offers some specific practiced solutions.

[bellie_a · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Do No Harm: How Aid Can Support Peace - Or War, Mary Anderson collects a compilation of narratives and reports from workers in the aid system who have assisted developing countries amidst war. This book addresses how the experiences of past aid workers, specifically in response to war, can help improve aid in the future. Secondly, this book details how aid, even with the most well-intentioned programs, can assist in contributing to the prolongment of war. Lastly, Anderson suggests strategies that may resolve and ultimately prevent “harm” by actively avoiding any involvement in state building processes by employing the Local Capacities for Peace approach. Much of Anderson’s critical discussions and analysis on war and aid are supported by interviews and remarks from international aid workers in these war zones. However, Anderson also employs the narratives of victims of war and people who have seen and suffered the atrocities of warfare. Although the excerpts of these aid workers vary greatly, the thread of thought shared between these excerpts is that emergency administered in war zones in developing countries can cause, prolong, and reinforce conflict rather than relieve it (Anderson, 38). Although much of Part I of the book relies on the excerpts of experienced international aid and field workers, the beginning of the book, specifically the introduction and chapter one, elaborate and explain the foundation and basis of war, explaining the possible causes and the ultimate impacts of war on locals. It also presents specific examples and cases when aid has done harm, as the title of the book suggests. More so, the first part explains how aid and conflict interact in a way that exacerbates conflict instead of helping to establish aid programs that provide relief and development assistance (Anderson, 3).
In the latter section of part 1 of the book, specifically chapters four and five, Anderson does a thorough job of addressing the larger context of war using specific examples. Ultimately these chapters explain how resource allocation and distribution in aid programming can increase conflict instead of saving lives and promoting development (Anderson, 37). Anderson ultimately does a thorough job in suggesting strategies to mitigate the distress of economic and political resources being used in nefarious ways to aid warfare rather than promote peace (Anderson, 40-41).
Anderson also thoroughly describes the Local Capacities for Peace (LCP) approach to be utilized as a means of lending support to developing countries during times of warfare. The LCP suggests that emergency aid can be successful in alleviating distress if its objective is to stay neutral. It is suggested that aid and field workers engage locals in taking responsibility for the success and prolongment of aid programs. As a result, the final conclusions Anderson makes are sufficient, using evidence from the anecdotes of the aid workers that the LCP approach is less inclusive and more successful long term. Overall aid workers and their agencies interject themselves into the communities they are meant to help and impose their concepts and knowledge.

[Jimmy J. Crantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting points on pitfalls when giving aid during conflict, and highlighting case-studies from Tajikistan, Lebanon, Burundi, India and Somalia.