Paper Short Abstract:

In this presentation, I will examine the various forms of "humanitarian borderwork" in the context of the Polish-Belarusian border crisis. I will address the phenomenon of ‘military humanitarianism’, which allows aggressors to become victims and to portray violence as a patriotic endeavour; the discourse of 'humanitarian pushbacks', which allows a ruthless state policy to be presented as a concern for migrants; and the postulated political neutrality of large humanitarian organisations, which prefer not to engage in activities that are not approved by the state.

Paper Abstract:

The humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border following the launch of the new migration route by the Lukashenko regime in 2021 is typically framed in terms of the denial of state aid to migrants, which has resulted in the loss of their health and lives. However, it can also be viewed as a crisis of the very concept of humanitarianism, which frequently serves to reinforce border control policies. The use of humanitarianism in the context of securitisation carries inherent risks, particularly where it may result in complacency among those who might otherwise oppose exclusionary and violent practices towards migrants. In this presentation, I will examine the various forms of "humanitarian borderwork" (Pallister-Wilkins) in the context of the Polish-Belarusian border crisis. I will address the phenomenon of ‘military humanitarianism’, which allows aggressors to become victims and to portray violence as a patriotic endeavour; the discourse of 'humanitarian pushbacks', which allows a ruthless state policy to be presented as a concern for migrants; and the postulated political neutrality of large humanitarian organisations, which prefer not to engage in activities that are not approved by the state and to transfer the responsibility for the care of people on the move to grassroots aid initiatives. The perceived hypocrisy of the humanitarian ideals leads these initiatives to reposition themselves as solidarity movements. This transformation seeks to bridge the divide between citizens and strangers, those who are framed as active actors providing aid and those who are perceived as passive recipients of humanitarian assistance.