Reshaping the Multilateral Aid Regime from the Global South? Alternative Perspectives on Humanitarianism, Development and Peacebuilding from Latin America and the Caribbean

ABSTRACT

In the context of rising contestations to the Liberal International Order (LIO), it is crucial to highlight the contribution of the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region to international institutions and global governance, particularly considering its peripheral position in the world order. The Triple Nexus Approach (TPA), adopted in 2016, promotes a coordinated effort in providing humanitarian assistance and aid for development by integrating them with peace endeavours. The LAC region has provided political and conceptual contributions to each TPA component, providing alternative perspectives on multilateral governance in humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding, emphasising the pursuit of collective and context-specific outcomes for crisis prevention. Focusing on the period from the early 21st century to 2019, a time when the Triple Nexus theoretical structuring publications emerged, it is highlighted how contestations to the LIO and the changing world order have impacted global governance norms, creating opportunities for emerging and peripheral countries to shape post-liberal rules. This allows Global South countries to set self-determined development objectives and make a meaningful contribution to global rule-making.

KEYWORDS:

• Triple Nexus
• humanitarianism
• development
• peacebuilding
• Latin America and the Caribbean

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Eugenia Baroncelli and Daniela Irrera, who organised this Special Issue on “The Triple Nexus and the Future of Multilateral Governance: Rethinking Coordination between Humanitarian, Development and Peacebuilding Efforts”.

Notes

1 The Drago Doctrine, formulated by Argentine Foreign Minister Luis María Drago in 1902, principally asserts the sovereign immunity of states against coercive measures by foreign powers aimed at the collection of public debts owed to private entities (Deciancio 2016c). The essence of this doctrine lies in the assertion that the use of force to recover such debts is contrary to the principles of international law.

2 Bolsa Familia and Fome Zero are conditional cash transfer programmes that support millions of people living in poverty and extreme poverty; their main objective is access to health and education services as well as food security. Bolsa Familia [Family Allowance] was first implemented in 2003 and has received recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Bank Group and many other International Organisations due to its success in providing relief and assistance to poor families. Fome Zero [Zero Hunger] was launched as a separate programme in 2003, but later merged under the encompassing label of Bolsa Familia. As Pimenta de Faria and Goulart Paradis (2013) and Saad Filho (2015) argue, the success of Bolsa Familia in improving school attendance and vaccination given its conditionality clauses, as well as its results in poverty reduction, led to the emulation of the programme in dozens of countries.

3 The Buen Vivir paradigm advocates for the restoration of harmony between human beings and nature, through sustainable and balanced utilisation of natural resources, while prioritising indigenous ancestral knowledge and practices. It represents an openly anti-capitalist model, contrasting with the tenets of Western modernising development. For further insights, refer to Choquehuanca (2010).

4 Taking these national examples, which are inclusive of minorities, it is essential to mention alternative theoretical frameworks for analysing processes of social and political pacification. For instance, contributions related to indigenism and peace, as explored in works like Ethnography for Peace (Sandoval 2013) and Decolonial Integral Peace (Sandoval 2016). The concept of a Culture of Peace developed by MacGregor (Cruz 2018), closely linked to the Andean world, indigenous ancestral culture and communal conflict resolution, is also noteworthy. Furthermore, the proposal of Paz desde abajo (Peace from below) (Hernandez Delgado 2009) considers pacification and social stabilisation from the perspectives of indigenous and peasant communities. These works originate from situated knowledge derived from peripheral, marginalised, or grassroots perspectives prevalent in Latin America, and they allow for alternative visions of processes related to social stabilisation and pacification (Cruz 2018).

5 The Vivir Sabroso refers to a way of living that is full, seeking enjoyment and satisfaction in all dimensions of existence, from the material to the spiritual. This concept acknowledges the importance of food, culture, interpersonal relationships and the natural environment in achieving a fulfilling and satisfying life. It is a process, not a static state, primarily associated with the assertion of the rights and demands of Afro-descendant peoples in Colombia and Central America.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Melisa Deciancio

Melisa Deciancio is a Fellow Researcher at the National Scientific and Research Council of Argentina, based in the Department of International Relations at FLACSO, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Agustina Garino

Agustina Garino is a Fellow Researcher at the National Scientific and Research Council of Argentina, based in the Department of International Relations at FLACSO, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Delfina Vila Moret

Delfina Vila Moret is an Assistant Researcher in the Department of International Relations at FLACSO Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.