ABSTRACT
The contribution of this chapter is to examine the ‘Nordic model’ of aid vis-à-vis three kinds of critiques of international humanitarianism (broadly defined): (1) those concerning its origins in colonialism and missionising; (2) those concerning its imposition of top-down neoliberal modes of accountability on recipient societies; (3) those concerning its problematic representations of recipients and (4) those concerning its tendency to reflect security concerns of major powers. The chapter asks whether the Nordic model of humanitarianism, which forms part of the broader Nordic Peace agenda, makes a difference in addressing these critiques. I argue that, while the Nordic model was indeed an important phenomenon and counter to the aid initiatives of major western powers during the Cold War into the 1990s, a number of factors have limited its egalitarianism from the outset. These factors in addition to recent events, including increased migration to Nordic countries from the Middle East and Africa, have altered the equation even more. Employing the work of Nordic authors in addition to others, the chapter discusses the weakening of Nordic aid mechanisms. It also addresses ongoing problems in representation, combined with racism towards migrants, that the Nordic model must transcend if it is to recapture ethical as well as practical leadership in humanitarian aid.
