Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/214702 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
Global Cooperation Research Papers No. 9
Publisher: 
University of Duisburg-Essen, Käte Hamburger Kolleg / Centre for Global Cooperation Research (KHK/GCR21), Duisburg
Abstract: 
The paper challenges the assumption that empathy is the key source of humanitarianism. It begins by asking what underlies the perception of empathy as one of the chief motors of humanitarian aid. This leads to an examination of the ‘scene of empathy’—which in turn sheds light on some of the more problematic aspects of empathy. Three of these problematic aspects and their importance for humanitarian aid are discussed, namely (temporary) self-loss, a tendency to radicalize conflicts and the danger of sadism. In conclusion, the author asks in how far humanitarianism can be decoupled from empathy and proposes an alternative approach. This alternative approach revolves around the development of a common we-identity which does not depend on empathy.
Subjects: 
Humanitarianism
empathy
narrative
self-loss
conflict
sadism
we-identity
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by-nd Logo
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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