Transforming Emergencies: the Rise of a Humanitarian Ideology in the United States, 1959-1987
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--History History 2016 Transforming Emergencies: The Rise of a Humanitarian Ideology in the United States, 1959-1987 Bethany A. Sharpe University of Kentucky, [email protected] Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2016.533 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Sharpe, Bethany A., "Transforming Emergencies: The Rise of a Humanitarian Ideology in the United States, 1959-1987" (2016). Theses and Dissertations--History. 43. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/history_etds/43 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the History at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--History by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Bethany A. Sharpe, Student Dr. Paul Thomas Chamberlin, Major Professor Dr. Scott Taylor, Director of Graduate Studies TRANSFORMING EMERGENCIES: THE RISE OF A HUMANITARIAN IDEOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1959-1987 DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Science at the University of Kentucky. By Bethany A. Sharpe Lexington, Kentucky Co-Directors: Dr. Paul Thomas Chamberlin, Professor of History and Dr. Lien-Hang Nguyen, Professor of History Lexington, Kentucky Copyright © Bethany A. Sharpe 2016 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION TRANSFORMING EMERGENCIES: THE RISE OF A HUMANITARIAN IDEOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1959-1987 This dissertation is situated within the historiography of humanitarianism in U.S. Foreign Relations and seeks to make better sense of when and how Americans choose to act in humanitarian encounters. To fully explore the dynamism of modern humanitarianism, this work traces its meteoric rise between the years 1959 and 1987 and analyzes key ideas that propelled forward the movement. It argues that conceptions and perceptions of children were the central ideas that spurred emotional, financial, and security investment in emergencies abroad from the American public. A variety of actors, including large and small NGOs, government agencies, and the media, grappled with the meanings of childhood as a means to advance forward different understandings of humanitarian efforts. Each of these meanings had a decisive and at moments divisive influence in debates around the U.S. role in its interactions with the world vis-à-vis humanitarianism. By the end of the years under study, these arguments had cemented an ideology in which the American people expected U.S. involvement in crises raging throughout the world. This work explores that journey. KEYWORDS: Humanitarianism, Human Rights, Childhood, Wars, Non-profit Organizations, American Humanitarianism Bethany A. Sharpe August 29, 2016 Date TRANSFORMING EMERGENCIES: THE RISE OF A HUMANITARIAN IDEOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1959-1987 By Bethany A. Sharpe Dr. Paul T. Chamberlin Co-Director of Dissertation Dr. Lien-Hang Nguyen Co-Director of Dissertation Dr. Scott Taylor Director of Graduate Studies August 29, 2016 DEDICATION I started my first graduate class one week after my first baby and my second baby followed shortly thereafter. It was incredibly difficult. I had a lot of people tell me that it simply wouldn’t work and that I would have to choose one or the other. Fortunately, along the way, I met a few women who had successfully navigated the balancing act of pursuing two passions. They told me it could work. This work is dedicated to all the female graduate students who are attempting to balance all the dreams of life. I met a few of you and your stories and affirmation meant more to me than I can ever acknowledge. I never met such stronger women. I know that there are more out there. Keep on truckin,’ ladies, and have faith that it can be done. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation was an amazing experience and I have several people to thank for that. First, I would like to thank my doctoral committee, particularly my advisors, Dr. Lien-Hang Nguyen and Dr. Paul Thomas Chamberlin. Both provided me with unwavering support and precious gifts which have shaped this work: they gave me the faith to dream big, wisdom to let me fall where I needed, and the grace to pick me back up again. I could not have asked for a better pair to guide me through the thicket of graduate school. Dr. Amy Murrell Taylor, Dr. Patricia Ehrkamp, and Dr. Laurie Henry provided important encouragement and keen insights and served as models for the kind of teacher I would like to be someday. Thank you. Several organizations contributed funds that allowed me to visit their archives for portions of this work. Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, the LBJ Presidential Library, and the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota. The University of Kentucky’s Department of History and Graduate School further supplemented my travels for research and conferences. I cannot thank these groups enough. My fellow graduate students always gave me something to think about, and Mary Osborne was particularly helpful. I could always count on her to ask challenging questions and provide invaluable feedback on my drafts. Most of all, she gave me hope. I send a special thanks to my mother. Although she may not have always understood why I was doing what I was doing, she always believed that I could do it. Finally, I would like to thank my husband who, eventually, became a willing partner in whatever crazy scheme I came up with. I don’t have the words to tell you how much I love you. Just know that I do. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................................iii Chapter One: Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 Chapter Two: Laying the Foundation: The 1959 World Refugee Year and the seeds of a humanitarian ideology ................................................................................................................. 24 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 24 World Refugee Year: Brotherhood and citizen responsibility .................................................. 29 A tale of two victims: Katya and those “who hate us” ............................................................. 40 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 61 Chapter Three: Casualty of War: Transformation, Biafran babies, and U.S. humanitarianism in the 1967 Nigerian-Biafran Civil War ............................................................................................. 66 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 66 Shades of American Childhood: Innocence and productivity ................................................... 73 Disputed Terrain: Defenseless victim or offensive soldier? ..................................................... 83 “The World is Watching”: Erosion of U.S. support for Biafra ................................................... 92 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 102 Chapter Four: Elephant Souvenirs: 1975 Operation Babylift and the commodification of humanitarianism ........................................................................................................................ 105 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 105 Babylift: Critics vs. Supporters ..............................................................................................