The politics of International Humanitarian Aid in a post-coup of Myanmar: Norms, powers, and interests

抄録

The military coup in Feb 2021 in Myanmar imposed a huge challenge for international humanitarian organizations to continue their assistance to the local population. It forced these organizations to make a hard choice either to stay or leave. The interaction of international organizations with the military authority that toppled the democratically elected government drew the attention to the public. The criticisms of local aid actors towards international organizations and their application of humanitarian principles and democratic values have substantially surged. To understand the dynamic of power, perceptions, and politics of the aid sector in Myanmar, this paper analyzes the shift of international aid organizations after the military takeover and the responses of national NGOs on it through the lens of humanitarian principles, localization, and legitimization.