Politics of Swedish humanitarian organizations: Exporting the welfare state?

Sébastien Chartrand

No P 02-301, Discussion Papers, Research Group International Politics from WZB Berlin Social Science Center

Abstract: This analysis of the social and political orientations of the Swedish humanitarian field, comprising here both NGOs active in humanitarian projects and the governmental Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency (SIDA), reveals once more the dominance of the Swedish social democratic model. This research is based on a selection of 23 humanitarian organizations from a survey of some 200 voluntary welfare organizations. A first review of the historical foundations of the nonprofit sector shows distinctive orientations followed by Swedish humanitarian NGOs. Indeed, the social democratic approach adopted by humanitarian NGOs has been created in opposition to the charity approach advocated mostly in Anglo-Saxon countries. The social democratic approach seeks to provide value-neutral and universal aid, in the sense of offering a decommodifying (i.e. non-governmental or public) alternative to the beneficiary. Though, the state is vested with the ultimate responsibility in this field. The relationship between governmental and non-governmental actors and their organizational structure, shows a synergy, a conjunction of views regarding the goals and humanitarian aid and development. In sum, this study brings to the front the welfare state's dominance and the social democratic ideology as dominant culture transcending the Swedish nonprofit organizational life.

Date: 2002
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