Humanitarian Action: Philosophy, Ethics and International Protection [2626]

General Information

• Credits: 3 ECTS
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's or Licence level (or equivalent); proficiency in French
• Learning format: asynchronous distance learning – 100% e-learning
• Language of instruction: French
• Course access: available at any time of year
• Disability liaison officer: Cécile Boucherle

Course Overview

This course offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to humanitarian action, examining its historical, philosophical, ethical, economic, legal, religious, environmental and social dimensions. It traces the origins and development of humanitarian action in order to shed light on its values, practices and contemporary ambiguities. In particular, it explores the neutrality and professional ethics of NGOs, their increasing professionalisation, the relationship between humanitarian action and religion, international humanitarian law and human rights, as well as environmental and migration-related issues. Finally, the course reflects on the future of humanitarian action, emphasising the need to combine field experience, ethical reflection, research and training. 

Course Objectives

This course enables you to:

• Trace the genealogy of humanitarian action, from ancient philosophical and religious currents to contemporary non-governmental organisations, and discuss the charge of neocolonialism.
  
• Construct an ethics of humanitarian commitment, examining neutrality, the choice between consenting and denouncing, and the place of an ethics committee.
  
• Analyse the economic dimension of the sector: the actual scale of aid, the dilemma of acting here before elsewhere, professionalisation, microcredit.
  
• Compare the spiritual foundations of humanitarian ethics across the major religious traditions, and the state of human rights according to cultural areas.
  
• Question the contemporary extensions of humanitarianism: ecology, migration and the role of art as a site of hope.

Course Competencies

This course is linked to the following competency:

• Evaluate the ethical and practical conditions of a humanitarian intervention or of a post-conflict transition 

Course Outline

Section 1 – An Ambiguous History

Section 2 – Ethics in Humanitarian Work: In Praise of Modesty

Section 3 – Economics and Humanitarian Action

Section 4 – Spirituality, Religion and Humanitarian Work

Section 5 – Rights and Duties in Humanitarian Work

Section 6 – Ecology and Humanitarian Issues

Section 7 – Philosophy and Migration

Section 8 – Places of Hope

Section 9 – Tomorrow

Assessment Methods 

Course assessment is based on:

• tracking and completion of the course and of all learning activities. These activities, designed as essential practice and learning exercises, may be completed multiple times and are not factored into the final grade,
• the final assessment quiz, which constitutes the graded evaluation.

Learning Format

The course is taught entirely online via the MyDomuni platform, accessible 24/7.
Learning resources include:

• written course materials;
• supplementary documents and, depending on the content, video resources;
• interactive learning activities (quizzes, exercises);
• a discussion forum with the course instructor and fellow participants.

Prerequisites

This course is open to anyone holding a Bachelor's degree or Licence (or an equivalent qualification) in law, the humanities, social sciences, theology, or a related field connected to human rights, or with significant personal or academic experience related to the topics covered.

A good command of written French is recommended to facilitate understanding of the content and participation in the activities offered.

Accessibility

The course is accessible at any time, from any internet-connected device, via the MyDomuni platform.
For students with disabilities, specific support can be arranged upon request to ensure equitable access to course content and activities.

Disability liaison officer: cecile.boucherle@domuni.eu.

Selective Bibliography

• Ethan B. Kapstein and Joel H. Rosenthal (eds.), Ethics and International Relations, Aldershot, Ashgate, 2006.
• Mathias Risse, Global Political Philosophy, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
• Jussi Parry, The Ethics of Humanitarian Intervention: An Introduction, Abingdon, Routledge, 2024.
• Emily Crawford and Alison Pert, International Humanitarian Law, 3rd ed., Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2024.
• Marco Sassòli, International Humanitarian Law: Rules, Controversies, and Solutions to Problems Arising in Warfare, 2nd ed.,
• Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024.
• Amartya Sen, On Ethics and Economics, Oxford and New York, Basil Blackwell, 1987; repr. Wiley-Blackwell, 1991.