Dr Susan O'Leary, Royal Holloway, University of London

'Misadventures in participatory accountability? Nomadic subjects and affirmative otherness in a humanitarian NGO.' (co-authored T. Dinh & S. Frueh)
Wednesday 8 June, 1pm - 2.15pm
Zoom online seminar

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Abstract

This study seeks to provide critical reflection on the concept of ‘accountability to the other’ by investigating the co-responsiveness of the other. We studied this in the context of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and recent ‘localisation of aid’ agendas within the humanitarian sector that seek to incorporate an enhanced notion of participation. In particular, we sought to examine how a nomadic and affirmative view of the other (Braidotti, 2013, 2019), as materialised in specific participatory accounts, supported the epistemic project of understanding the other in a partial, grounded and situated sense, and, in doing so, were intended to prompt certain levels and types of co-responsivity on behalf of the other. We demonstrate in our findings how this materialised in opportunities for the provision of participatory accounts within the ICRC – namely ‘threats and risk assessments’ and ‘mapping the journey of the affected person’. We found that within these assessments, the intention to know the other in a situated and affirmative sense materialised across three main modes of knowing: what it means to ‘become’ an affected person, how the affected person copes, and indeed thrives, in their situatedness, and how the affected person moves about in the ebbs and flows of humanitarian crises. We also demonstrate, however, that those we interviewed were frustrated by the tendency for the particulars of various humanitarian crises to impact the reciprocity and reflexivity of the affected other in engaging with these participatory opportunities. While knowledge of such particulars were sought within the participatory accounts, they also paradoxically were seen to derail and/or ultimately preclude the provision of these accounts in the first instance.

Biography

Susan's research interests primarily relate to the use of accounting and accountability practices within non-governmental organisations (NGOs). She is particularly interested in the monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment tools used within NGOs, and how they are used to derive outcomes as diverse as accountability to financial donors to the fulfilment of social development obligations at a grassroots level. On a broader level, Susan is also interested in a range of theoretical perspectives that highlight accounting and accountability as a pluralistic and dialogic practice. Her research employs a critical and interdisciplinary style with an emphasis on case-based, qualitative and at times, ethnographic research methods. She is a member of the Centre for Research in Sustainability (CRIS) and the Critical and Historical Perspectives research group.

Further information: business-events@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 23 May 2022

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