Guestblogger Introduction: Conor Foley

by Henry Farrell on August 10, 2009

We’re happy to announce that Conor Foley will be guestblogging with us for a little while. Conor is an occasional commenter here at CT, and has extensive experience in working both for NGOs (Amnesty International, Liberty) and international organizations (the United Nations) on aid and human rights issues. He also has a strong and provocative take on the politics of human rights, best set out in his (in my opinion, excellent) recent book _The Thin Blue Line: How Humanitarianism Went to War_ (Amazon, Powells, B&N). As “Michael Williams”:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/26/humanrights-internationalaidanddevelopment describes the book:

Throughout the 1990s, the idea of humanitarian intervention rapidly gained in popularity in a world where the balance of power was suddenly no more. … Foley contends, … correctly, that this has set dangerous precedents. First of all, what right and responsibility do these various NGOs have in naming a conflict “genocide” or a “humanitarian disaster”? … here is also the issue of the role humanitarians play in actual conflicts. … Finally and perhaps most importantly, there is the issue of humanitarianism and legitimacy. Has humanitarianism become a way to legitimise and justify our interventions in the affairs of other states for ulterior motives?

Conor has interesting opinions on a whole variety of other topics. We’re happy to have him with us.

{ 6 comments }

1

Joshua Holmes 08.11.09 at 4:41 am

I would be delighted if someone on the left thought that bombing the Sudan would be a bad idea, for us or for them.

2

Katherine 08.11.09 at 8:39 am

I’d be very interested in his views on the emerging “duty to protect”, which some people getting quite excited about at the large-human-right-NGO-that-shall-not-be-named that I worked at for a bit.

3

Richard J 08.11.09 at 9:11 am

A handy cut out and keep summary of why 2011 is going to be such a disaster in Southern Sudan would be much appreciated…

4

Maria 08.11.09 at 2:03 pm

I’ve just started reading Conor’s book. Based on the first 100 or so pages, I thoroughly recommend it and look forward to reading his posts on CT.

5

Conor Foley 08.11.09 at 6:31 pm

Thanks for the welcome and the comments above. Perhaps I should start with something on Darfur and then broaden out. I am finishing up a report at the moment, but hope to have time to post something tomorrow.

6

Sock Puppet of the Great Satan 08.14.09 at 9:53 pm

I want Conor to make the famous “Sectarian Songbook” during his NUS days public-domain and post it up here.

Sniff. Good times.

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