1. SHARING THE BATTLESPACE
THE TRENDS AND TENSIONS EMERGING AS HUMANITARIAN
ORGANISATIONS AND THE FOR-PROFIT SECTOR SHARE POST-
DISASTER AND POST-CONFLICT SPACES

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abbreviations Page 3
Abstract Page 4
Challenges of the Research Page 5
Chapter 1 Introduction Page 6
Chapter 2 Disaster Capitalism Page 9
Chapter 3 Humanitarianism Overview Page 12
Chapter 4 Relief & Reconstruction Complex Page 15
Chapter 5 Modern Trends & Problems Page 18
Chapter 6 Business & the Third Sector Page 24
Chapter 7 Dangerous Spaces Page 29
Chapter 8 Pull of Non permissive Environment Page 36
Chapter 9 Support for Private Sector involvement Page 39
Chapter 10 Conclusion Page 43
Bibliography Page 45

3. ABSTRACT
Humanitarian revenue is currently USD$25bn per year. Monumental changes since the end
of the Cold War have had huge effects on the sector which is struggling to cope. Revenue is
increasing but so is the complexity of the battlespace. Globalisation, neoliberalism and
societal changes can be instruments of Western foreign policy. The War on Terror, the GFC
and increasing transnational terrorism are further complicating the field of humanitarianism.
There is concern we are moving towards the commercialisation and possibly even the
privatisation of humanitarian work. There has been much drum beating about PSCs and
private corporations making profit out of suffering, particularly the morality and ethics
involved. But humanitarianism has changed and the industry needs the innovation that drives
the private sector. In the new wars there is space for both. Why get caught up in
neoliberalism when the eventual goal of humanitarianism is to do good; as long as the victims
don’t care, why should we?
There is a growing space within humanitarianism for commercial enterprises to operate
performing services and delivering aid in a manner more efficient than many aid
organisations. Indeed, the influence of capitalism in the humanitarian space has become
normative, but shouldn’t necessarily make it problematic.
A tension exists that is the efficiency of markets versus perceived crisis exploitation. Attacks
on aid workers are on the increase which is leading to the normalisation of defensive living
arrangements; humanitarian agencies ‘bunkering down’ as if in a war situation by living and
working in fortified compounds.
This research focuses on the space where post-disaster and post-conflict assistance in the
form of humanitarianism overlaps with capitalist motivations. It seeks to understand some of
the problems created and whether phenomena such as ‘disaster capitalism’ are justifiably
used. The conclusion is that most of the criticism is in fact without grounds, and there is
much more to gain, and offer those in need, than trying to work independently based on noble
principles.