Depoliticization in Action: Analyzing OCHA's Modes of Framing the Humanitarian Crisis and Response in Northeast Nigeria (2013-2015)
(2024) MIDM19 20241Department of Human Geography
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
- Abstract
- This thesis explores how the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) frames the humanitarian crisis and response in Northeastern Nigeria in the timeframe 2013-2015 within its key documents. Thereby, it seeks to understand how OCHA navigates the paradox of its apolitical mandate while being embedded in political dynamics. Drawing on Louis and Maertens's (2021) theory of depoliticization, the thesis hypothesizes that OCHA uses the methods of quantification and compartmentalization, thereby creating a simplified and fragmented narrative and obscuring the underlying political crisis dynamics. The qualitative analysis confirms this, showing how OCHA uses quantification through Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) data and... (More)
- This thesis explores how the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) frames the humanitarian crisis and response in Northeastern Nigeria in the timeframe 2013-2015 within its key documents. Thereby, it seeks to understand how OCHA navigates the paradox of its apolitical mandate while being embedded in political dynamics. Drawing on Louis and Maertens's (2021) theory of depoliticization, the thesis hypothesizes that OCHA uses the methods of quantification and compartmentalization, thereby creating a simplified and fragmented narrative and obscuring the underlying political crisis dynamics. The qualitative analysis confirms this, showing how OCHA uses quantification through Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) data and quantitative indicators, and compartmentalizes the crisis into distinct sectors and clusters within its key documents. Additionally, the analysis examines instances where multidimensional approaches are emphasized, and crisis factors are described that contrast with the depoliticized framing through quantification and compartmentalization. The discussion links the findings to the logics of IOs’ use of depoliticization and debates how these can explain potential implications such as perpetuating the status quo. The thesis concludes that while these strategies might contribute to OCHA’s operational efficiency, they may need reevaluation to create a more holistic narrative to foster sustainable solutions that address the root causes of the prolonged crises. Further research could empirically explore the impact of depoliticization strategies on humanitarian outcomes and examine how they adapt to different crises and organizations. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9157167
- author
- Boos, Hanne LU
- supervisor
-
- Olle Frödin LU
- organization
- course
- MIDM19 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9157167
- date added to LUP
- 2024-07-24 11:15:53
- date last changed
- 2024-07-24 11:15:53
@misc{9157167,
abstract = {{This thesis explores how the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) frames the humanitarian crisis and response in Northeastern Nigeria in the timeframe 2013-2015 within its key documents. Thereby, it seeks to understand how OCHA navigates the paradox of its apolitical mandate while being embedded in political dynamics. Drawing on Louis and Maertens's (2021) theory of depoliticization, the thesis hypothesizes that OCHA uses the methods of quantification and compartmentalization, thereby creating a simplified and fragmented narrative and obscuring the underlying political crisis dynamics. The qualitative analysis confirms this, showing how OCHA uses quantification through Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) data and quantitative indicators, and compartmentalizes the crisis into distinct sectors and clusters within its key documents. Additionally, the analysis examines instances where multidimensional approaches are emphasized, and crisis factors are described that contrast with the depoliticized framing through quantification and compartmentalization. The discussion links the findings to the logics of IOs’ use of depoliticization and debates how these can explain potential implications such as perpetuating the status quo. The thesis concludes that while these strategies might contribute to OCHA’s operational efficiency, they may need reevaluation to create a more holistic narrative to foster sustainable solutions that address the root causes of the prolonged crises. Further research could empirically explore the impact of depoliticization strategies on humanitarian outcomes and examine how they adapt to different crises and organizations.}},
author = {{Boos, Hanne}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Depoliticization in Action: Analyzing OCHA's Modes of Framing the Humanitarian Crisis and Response in Northeast Nigeria (2013-2015)}},
year = {{2024}},
}