A multipolar and multi-conceptual world order is emerging as a result of the significant changes taking place in geopolitics. The rules and values that separate the geopolitical giants have become increasingly apparent as the balance of power in the world has changed. World War II, which was initially marked by the unipolar US hegemony and later the bipolar Cold War, has given way to a time of spreading power.
A larger group of nations that includes Russia, India, several governments in Europe and the Middle East, and the Global South (which comprises much of Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia) are also experiencing changes in their patterns of influence, cooperation, and competition.
Consider the differing historical narratives of China, India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia as examples of the many political principles, governance structures, historical legacies, and societal traditions that many of today’s emerging (or resurgent) centers of power possess. To get ready for a multipolar and multi-conceptual 21st century, many of the institutions that have influenced world politics and economics since the middle of the 20th century need to be rethought.
Humanitarian emergencies, such as man-made conflict, natural catastrophes, and pandemics, can increase pre-existing vulnerabilities related to human rights and give rise to human rights issues. As the world is seeing COVID-19 and climate change, disasters and natural calamities are becoming more frequent. In the last several years, there has been an exponential growth in the number of individuals impacted by crises, their duration, scope, and complexity, as well as forecasts of impending calamities.
Major humanitarian crises are wreaking havoc around the globe, seriously endangering the foundation of global security as well as the range of values intended to encourage the human impulse to assist those in need.
Analysis of Humanitarian Crises
Aside from the agony of relocation, the majority of war zones—which have little chance of seeing immediate peace—face serious problems with the economy and public health, which are made worse by dangers to food supply. There are difficulties in surviving even for those who have a place to live and some food supplies. A calamity struck Somalia. Food insecurity brought on by the protracted drought poses a threat to national security. To find food and water, almost a million Somalians have been forced to relocate.
About 20 million people struggle to feed themselves in Somalia, northern Kenya, and portions of Ethiopia. 90% of the 5.5 million people living in Ethiopia’s Tigray area, according to UN estimates, require immediate assistance due to ongoing conflict, severe drought, and economic collapse.
Approximately 24 million people in Yemen require humanitarian aid after ten years of strife, half of them urgently. Over half of the 40 million people living in Afghanistan depend on charity to live. 1.2 million people have been relocated to Myanmar, the majority of whom have done so since the military took office in February 2021. With over 5 million people having left the nation since the Russian invasion in February and at least 7 million internally displaced, the conflict in Ukraine has resulted in one of the worst refugee crises in history.
Humanitarian aid is seen with distrust in the more divisive environment of today as a weapon of regime change and a Western-dominated instrument. The UN Security Council’s ongoing impasse is a reflection of the different paths taken by China, Russia, and the US. Effective cooperation and consensus are impossible given the escalating tensions between the US and China about global supremacy. Claims of double standards and inconsistency divert humanitarians’ attention from their primary responsibility of providing aid to those in need.
Lastly, the worldwide epidemic has brought attention to the inequities in access to vaccinations and the effectiveness of humanitarian aid. Just 15% of adults on the African continent were completely vaccinated as of March, compared to more than 70% in two-thirds of the world’s wealthiest countries.
Not due to lack of supply, but rather due to donor unwillingness to offer vaccinations in sensitive areas that are frequently in the most acute need, a humanitarian buffer established by GAVI/COVAX to extend vaccine reach to conflict-affected and remote regions has not succeeded.
Charting a Path to Sustainable Humanitarian Intervention: Enhancing Collaboration, Resilience, and Systemic Reform
Human rights protection is a fundamental and encompassing aspect of humanitarian intervention during times of distress. But it’s also crucial to build resilience, encourage long-term solutions, maintain stability and peace once it happens, and prepare for it via prevention and readiness.
A spiral of sufferings, injustices, and atrocities that exacerbate vulnerabilities and humanitarian needs, lowers the likelihood of a quick recovery including by escalating preexisting tensions and worsens the crisis that arises when humanitarian crises are not appropriately addressed and resolved.
Improvements and Reforms are desperately needed as the international system grows more and more disputed and fractured. They can be as follows:
- As more nations embrace the role of guarantors, the function of neutral third parties in mediation and negotiation as a mechanism to enable access in contentious regions might be strengthened.
- Is it better to see the humanitarian/political split as a false dichotomy and concentrate on improving the effectiveness of cooperation between humanitarians and political actors? Even amid a full-scale conflict, the Black Sea Grain Initiative provides some insightful insights on how to go ahead.
- The international level’s early warning and needs assessment procedures should be strengthened.
- To better direct donor attention and assistance, a thorough heat map of the areas in need would be helpful. Due to inadequate access and data gathering, the 2011 Somali famine was discovered too late to save the lives of around 260,000 individuals. This may have led to an earlier reaction from donors.
- There has to be more coordination and integration between the several local and private humanitarian operations. Whenever feasible, rather than relying solely on the state for top-down assistance distribution, more work has to be done at the community level in conflict areas to support socio-economic resilience and recovery through local agreements and arrangements.
In a rapidly evolving world characterized by multipolar dynamics and diverse ideologies, the landscape of global governance and humanitarian aid is undergoing profound shifts. The emergence of new power centers challenges established norms and values, shaping a geopolitical landscape where sovereignty often overshadows humanitarian imperatives.
The escalating humanitarian crises, exacerbated by conflicts, natural disasters, and pandemics, demand urgent attention and effective resolution strategies. However, the current geopolitical tensions and divergent national interests have made consensus-building a formidable task, hindering the swift and comprehensive delivery of humanitarian aid.
Mediation stands as a crucial mechanism in addressing these challenges. It offers a potential bridge between conflicting interests, providing a platform for dialogue and negotiation to facilitate access to affected regions and populations. Yet, the effectiveness of mediation hinges on the cooperation between humanitarian and political actors, blurring the lines between purely humanitarian concerns and political agendas.
To navigate this complex landscape, improvements and reforms within the international system are imperative. Strengthening the role of neutral third parties, enhancing early warning systems, and fostering greater coordination among local, private, and state-led humanitarian operations are critical steps toward more effective crisis response and resolution.
Moreover, the intersection of societal norms and sovereign interests underscores the need for a reevaluation of humanitarian aid within the context of contemporary geopolitics. As major nations challenge established Western standards, there arises a pressing need to redefine consensus on what constitutes purely humanitarian issues.
In conclusion, the evolving multipolar world demands a reexamination of the interplay between politics and humanitarianism. While mediation offers a promising pathway to address conflicts and crises, a concerted effort to reconcile divergent interests and prioritize humanitarian imperatives is essential to effectively navigate the complex landscape of global governance and crisis response.
- “OHCHR | OHCHR and Protecting Human Rights in Humanitarian Crises.” OHCHR, www.ohchr.org/en/humanitarian-crises.
- Vatikiotis, Michael. “Humanitarian Crises in a Multipolar World: How Mediation and Reforms Can Get Aid Moving – Michael Vatikiotis.” HD, 14 Sept. 2022, hdcentre.org/news/humanitarian-crises-in-a-multipolar-world-how-mediation-and-reforms-can-get-aid-moving/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=humanitarian-crises-in-a-multipolar-world-how-mediation-and-reforms-can-get-aid-moving.
- Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. “Geopolitics: Multipolar, Multi-Conceptual.” World Economic Forum, intelligence.weforum.org/.
- “Humanitarian Situation Report No. 8.” UNICEF, Aug. 2023, www.unicef.org/somalia/reports/somalia-situation-reports-2023. Accessed 26 Dec. 2023.
- UNHCR. “Myanmar Situation.” Global Focus UNHCR Operations Worldwide, reporting.unhcr.org/operational/situations/myanmar-situation.
- “Number of Internally Displaced in Myanmar.” UN News, 11 Feb. 2022, news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1111812.
- “Ukraine Refugee Situation.” Data.unhcr.org, UNHCR, 6 Dec. 2022, data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine.
- UNICEF. “Yemen Crisis.” Unicef.org, UNICEF, 19 July 2023, www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis.
- “UNICEF Somalia 2022 Annual Report ExtSum.” UNICEF, UNICEF, 2022, www.unicef.org/somalia/reports/somalia-situation-reports-2023.
- WHO. “Africa’s COVID-19 Vaccination.” WHO | Regional Office for Africa, 17 Mar. 2022, www.afro.who.int/news/africas-covid-19-vaccine-uptake-increases-15.