From Salvation Aid to Eco-Mutualist Aid The Psycho-Social Dynamics of INGOs and Humanitarianism.

This paper explores the psycho-social dynamics of the INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organisations) focusing on 'salvation aid', a conscious and unconscious dynamic that underpins the way INGO humanitarian aid is delivered. It draws on insights from psychoanalytic theory, object relations and Lacanian-orientated approaches; alongside observations from the authors' experience of consulting to the humanitarian sector, and the views from experienced humanitarians in the field. Salvation aid gives the INGO humanitarian power-over a helpless other and also affords them psychological and emotional protection. This aspect of the libidinal economy of humanitarianism is often missed. Working with the imaginary idea that humanitarians are idealised good saviours becomes both a cultural power play and a social defence mechanism. Identifying with an idealised good self and taking up an unconscious collective identity of 'saviour', however, is depersonalising both for the aid recipient and the aid worker. Aid recipients are not seen as whole people, or communities, but are split off and become, in Kleinian terms, part-objects in the saviour's mind; victims without agency in need of our help (Klein, 1946). Likewise, the aid worker and their organisation also become depersonalised, as they also split off parts of themselves by projecting their own vulnerability, fear, helplessness, and anxiety onto the victim. The humanitarian sector faces many challenges, particularly funding reductions alongside rising levels of demand due to climate change and increased conflict due to protracted geopolitical challenges. How the humanitarian sector responds is currently problematic, with multiple reports that identify an urgent need for change. This paper makes a case that whilst the rational arguments for positive change are valid an unconscious attachment to 'salvation aid' in the humanitarian sector's global north is the sector's fundamental problem, creating unconscious and systemic resistance to the changes needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]