Keeping Up Standards for a Better World : Anthropological Alternatives to the Study of International Organisations
(2025) p.208-226- Abstract
- In the post-World War II era, international lawyers have occupied the front seat in the study of international organisations (IOs). During the past decade, this disciplinary hierarchy has grown to feel increasingly unsatisfying. This chapter offers an anthropological take on the study of IOs building both on the past decade of anthropological work and my ethnography at the UN Human Rights Committee. IOs are frequently accused of ineffectiveness embedded in endless paper-pushing techniques. In this chapter, I engage with these criticisms and ask: can we find another perspective from which to assess effectiveness? What happens if we stop investing our analytical attention in what we think IO operations and their desired ‘impacts’ should be... (More)
- In the post-World War II era, international lawyers have occupied the front seat in the study of international organisations (IOs). During the past decade, this disciplinary hierarchy has grown to feel increasingly unsatisfying. This chapter offers an anthropological take on the study of IOs building both on the past decade of anthropological work and my ethnography at the UN Human Rights Committee. IOs are frequently accused of ineffectiveness embedded in endless paper-pushing techniques. In this chapter, I engage with these criticisms and ask: can we find another perspective from which to assess effectiveness? What happens if we stop investing our analytical attention in what we think IO operations and their desired ‘impacts’ should be and instead engage in non-normative inquiries into what IOs actually do? I explore what can we learn about IOs’ visions for world improvement by focusing on the legal technicalities and material forms that define their operations. I propose that, instead of a hindrance or distraction, these forms embody ‘standards for a better world’ that are an essential component of IOs’ civilising mission. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/a536e6f1-4e7d-4c64-9897-e84932d8c977
- author
- Halme-Tuomisaari, Miia LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-05-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- anthropology, organizations, ethnography, human rights, UN, Human Rights Committee, Documents
- host publication
- Ways of Seeing International Organisations : New Perspectives for International Institutional Law - New Perspectives for International Institutional Law
- editor
- Mansouri, Negar and Quiroga-Villamarín, Daniel
- pages
- 18 pages
- publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105017214284
- DOI
- 10.1017/9781009552646.016
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a536e6f1-4e7d-4c64-9897-e84932d8c977
- date added to LUP
- 2025-11-26 18:10:04
- date last changed
- 2025-12-08 13:40:59
@inbook{a536e6f1-4e7d-4c64-9897-e84932d8c977,
abstract = {{In the post-World War II era, international lawyers have occupied the front seat in the study of international organisations (IOs). During the past decade, this disciplinary hierarchy has grown to feel increasingly unsatisfying. This chapter offers an anthropological take on the study of IOs building both on the past decade of anthropological work and my ethnography at the UN Human Rights Committee. IOs are frequently accused of ineffectiveness embedded in endless paper-pushing techniques. In this chapter, I engage with these criticisms and ask: can we find another perspective from which to assess effectiveness? What happens if we stop investing our analytical attention in what we think IO operations and their desired ‘impacts’ should be and instead engage in non-normative inquiries into what IOs actually do? I explore what can we learn about IOs’ visions for world improvement by focusing on the legal technicalities and material forms that define their operations. I propose that, instead of a hindrance or distraction, these forms embody ‘standards for a better world’ that are an essential component of IOs’ civilising mission.}},
author = {{Halme-Tuomisaari, Miia}},
booktitle = {{Ways of Seeing International Organisations : New Perspectives for International Institutional Law}},
editor = {{Mansouri, Negar and Quiroga-Villamarín, Daniel}},
keywords = {{anthropology; organizations; ethnography; human rights; UN; Human Rights Committee; Documents}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
pages = {{208--226}},
publisher = {{Cambridge University Press}},
title = {{Keeping Up Standards for a Better World : Anthropological Alternatives to the Study of International Organisations}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781009552646.016}},
doi = {{10.1017/9781009552646.016}},
year = {{2025}},
}