Thumbnail Image
Publication

A study of the relationships of power between humanitarian workers and local leaders in Haiti

Quintiliani, Pierrette
Publication Date
2018
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Kelly, Rhys H.S.
Keywords
Local leaders, Structural violence, Emotions, Coloniality of power, Humanitarian workers, Coexistence, Perception, Social constructionism, Power, Haiti
Rights
Creative Commons License
The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.
Peer-Reviewed
Open Access status
Accepted for publication
Institution
University of Bradford
Department
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Awarded
2018
Embargo end date
Collections
Theses
Show all metadata
Files
Thumbnail Image
PhD Thesis
Adobe PDF, 3.64 MB
Abstract
Like many former colonised countries, Haiti has been plagued by insecurity and conflicts caused by internal and external influences as well as natural disasters. In 1804, after a protracted conflict between slaves and French colonialists, Haiti became the first black country to gain its independence through a revolution. Today, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, ranking 153rd on the Human Development Index and a significant number of humanitarian organisations are present on the island aspiring at improving the standard of living of the population. The following study examines how the relationships of power emerging through the relationship between humanitarian and local leaders affect their perceptions of each other and identified the emotions emerging from these perceptions. The perceptions identified are the coloniality of power, corruption and distrust, the occurrence of conspiracy theories and the obstacles encountered in the implementation of a relief-development continuum model envisioned by general humanitarian policies. These perceptions create tensions between the humanitarian and local leaders, contributing to fuelling negative emotions such as regret, sadness, sense of failure, disappointment and anger. Negative emotions in this study affect the collaboration between humanitarians and local leaders, diminishing the positive influences and impact of humanitarian action on the well-being of the Haitian population. One of the components to increase these positive influences of humanitarian action is to lessen the asymmetricality of power between humanitarian and local leaders through the adoption of a Cultural Competence model by humanitarians.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/18433
Version
Citation
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Thesis
Qualification name
PhD
Notes