Western Concepts in Non-Western Context

Abstract

The concept of integrating humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts, collectively known as the triple nexus, is increasingly prominent in aid forums on the global level. The triple nexus is not a new concept, there has been similar initiatives before, with mixed outcomes. What sets the triple nexus apart from earlier initiatives is its incorporation of peace elements, which span from grassroots peacebuilding efforts to security interventions. Both development and peace work involve aspects of system building and government cooperations and in some cases stabilisation procedures, which would affect humanitarian actors ability to be neutral. The inclusion of the peace pillar is thus not without its challenges, as it raises concerns among humanitarian organisations, particularly regarding its potential impact on the humanitarian principles. The starting point for the study will be Myanmar, which after the military coup in 2021 has undergone major structural changes where the aid map has been completely redrawn. The new de facto government has placed heavy restrictions on aid organisations in country, limit access to many areas. This has forced the international community to adapt, creating new synergies and potentially changing the way humanitarians work. Local actors have played a key role in this new aid landscape, suggesting that a successful nexus response could be built without government systems. By comparing different humanitarian paradigms, I question whether we are seeing a shift towards a form of resistance humanitarianism, driven by the influence of local actors, challenging established truths in the international aid system. What does it really mean to be neutral in a context like Myanmar? How much importance is actually placed on the humanitarian principles by the actors who are working with triple nexus concepts? Through interviews with people representing both the local and the international, I intend to explore this further. I intend to examine the interplay between the triple nexus and the humanitarian principles, as well as shed light on the challenges and dynamics of implementing the triple nexus in a politically contentious environment.

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A master thesis from Aalborg University

Western Concepts in Non-Western Context - Triple Nexus in Myanmar