The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace
Abstract This paper aims to explore the ways which expertise is covertly racialized in the contemporary humanitarian aid sector. While there are considerable discussions on the expat-local divide among aid professionals, such dichotomization is still inherently nationality-based, which may be an ove...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of International Humanitarian Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-021-00112-9 |
| _version_ | 1798034504349122560 |
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| author | Junru Bian |
| author_facet | Junru Bian |
| author_sort | Junru Bian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This paper aims to explore the ways which expertise is covertly racialized in the contemporary humanitarian aid sector. While there are considerable discussions on the expat-local divide among aid professionals, such dichotomization is still inherently nationality-based, which may be an over-simplified explanation of the group dimensions within aid organizations. This study seeks to uncover that professional categorizations of “expatriate” and “local” are not race-neutral and, instead, colorblind. Organizations within the contemporary humanitarian aid apparatus have come to appeal to what Michael Omi and Howard Winant would characterize as a new racial discourse—one that does not require explicit references to race in order to be perpetuated, as racial subordination has been reconfigured to rely on implicit references to race woven within the everyday social fabrics of the humanitarian profession. The research suggests that embedded under the contemporary professional structure of the liberal humanitarian space is a covert power hierarchy fueled by perceptions of expertise and competency along racial lines—particularly around one’s whiteness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:45:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2cc40ffd81c6493d97043aba1bb64e92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2364-3412 2364-3404 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:45:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of International Humanitarian Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-2cc40ffd81c6493d97043aba1bb64e922022-12-22T04:04:03ZengSpringerOpenJournal of International Humanitarian Action2364-34122364-34042022-01-017111410.1186/s41018-021-00112-9The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplaceJunru Bian0School of Political Studies, University of OttawaAbstract This paper aims to explore the ways which expertise is covertly racialized in the contemporary humanitarian aid sector. While there are considerable discussions on the expat-local divide among aid professionals, such dichotomization is still inherently nationality-based, which may be an over-simplified explanation of the group dimensions within aid organizations. This study seeks to uncover that professional categorizations of “expatriate” and “local” are not race-neutral and, instead, colorblind. Organizations within the contemporary humanitarian aid apparatus have come to appeal to what Michael Omi and Howard Winant would characterize as a new racial discourse—one that does not require explicit references to race in order to be perpetuated, as racial subordination has been reconfigured to rely on implicit references to race woven within the everyday social fabrics of the humanitarian profession. The research suggests that embedded under the contemporary professional structure of the liberal humanitarian space is a covert power hierarchy fueled by perceptions of expertise and competency along racial lines—particularly around one’s whiteness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-021-00112-9RaceIdentityHumanitarianismAidExpertiseRacialization |
| spellingShingle | Junru Bian The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace Journal of International Humanitarian Action Race Identity Humanitarianism Aid Expertise Racialization |
| title | The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace |
| title_full | The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace |
| title_fullStr | The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace |
| title_full_unstemmed | The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace |
| title_short | The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace |
| title_sort | racialization of expertise and professional non equivalence in the humanitarian workplace |
| topic | Race Identity Humanitarianism Aid Expertise Racialization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-021-00112-9 |
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