International Institute Journal University of Michigan Vol. 1, No. 2 Spring 2012 Journal

New Media: Ushering in a New Era of Protest? Or Just Another Tool to Mobilize?

Inside: New Media and the Middle East: Thinking Allowed by Annabelle Sreberny The Politics of Energy and What it Means for the Climate by Brian Min Translating Human Rights Testimonies by Christi A. Merrill Burmese Change: Opportunities for Myanmar? by Dominic Nardi Health through Accompaniment in Rural Liberia by Colin Yee II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan

Contents

New Media and the Middle East: Thinking Allowed 2 by Annabelle Sreberny

The Politics of Energy and What It Means for the Climate 6 by Brian Min

© NASA

Translating Human Rights Testimonies 10 by Christi A. Merrill

Photo by Subedi2022

Burmese Change: Opportunities for Myanmar? 13 by Dominic Nardi

Health Through Accompaniment in Rural Liberia 16 by Colin Yee

On the Cover: Ken Kollman, Publisher Top: Apple iPhone 4 screen with news applications including CNN, ABC News, Washington Post, BBC News, Director of the International Institute and USA TODAY. Susanne Kocsis, Editor Middle: New York, NY, USA – October 11, 2011: Protestors broadcast updates over the internet via social Assistant Director of the Center for International media from their camp in Zuccotti Park, also called Liberty Park, as part of the Occupy Wall Street campaign & Comparative Studies (CICS) to protest corporate influence on democracy, and issues related to the global financial crisis. Updates via social Kirstin Olmstead, Circulations and Online Manager media and live streaming from the Park ensured a large active campaign of protest and connected NYC with Marketing and Communications Specialist for the protests in Seattle and elsewhere. International Institute Bottom: Athens, Greece – May 9, 2010: People wearing white masks are protesting outside the Parliament Susan Cybulski, Page Designer building against unpopular EU-IMF austerity deal. II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 1

Welcome to the Spring 2012 issue of the II Journal!

he II Journal is pleased to present a few of the highlights of another dynamic year at the International Institute. Apropos of a political year, politics are at the core of each article in this issue. From the political uprisings witnessed across the globe this year, advanced in part by new media, to the political choices made in the everyday work of energy distribution or literary production, Tto new political players and structures appearing in former dictatorships, politics inform these essays in obvious and subtle ways.

In Fall of 2011 the it Means for the Climate, Brian Min (CICS This year the International Institute International Security and Development University of Michigan hosted a day-long Fellow) explores the role governments play Wallenberg Committee symposium on New in supplying electricity, and how the type of awarded Aung San Media/Social Change government (democratic/ non-democratic) Suu Kyi the 21st Raoul to examine the impact determines which sector of society (citizens/ Wallenberg Medal of “new media” (social, network, digital) industry) gets priority in the delivery of in absentia for her human rights work on international news, political movements, electrical power. Soaring energy needs in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Dominic and on traditional news media. In our lead worldwide have serious consequences Nardi (a political science graduate student) article, New Media and the Middle East: for the climate, and the challenges of delivered the Wallenberg medal to her in Thinking Allowed, Annabelle Sreberny meeting increasing demand and addressing December. The next article describes his visit (Centre for Media and Film Studies, environmental concerns often present with the human rights activist in Burma. London) analyzes the role of new media conflicts for policymakers around the globe, He discusses the political transformations in contemporary political mobilizations and new questions for political scientists. taking place in the country, and Daw across the globe. She discusses the role Suu’s transformation from resistance of Facebook, Twitter, You-Tube, mobile leader to politician. He addresses the phones, email, and the 24-hour news cycle The literary process challenges of rebuilding after 50 years of in the socio-political unrest unfolding across (from writing to military dictatorship destroyed the public the Middle East and Western countries translating to editing institutions there. Democracy hangs in the alike. She examines the intersection of to publishing to balance as the country struggles with a new social networks with traditional forms reading), especially shortage of professionals who understand of news broadcasting, and old forms of in an international public management. political activism with its emphasis on context, is full of political repercussions. meeting spaces such as squares or parks In Translating Human Rights Testimonies, (Tahrir, Benghazi, Zuccotti, St. Paul), and the Christi Merrill (CICS Human Rights Fellow) Closing out the combinations of media tools and political discusses the ideological implications issue is a narrative actions used to topple authoritarian regimes of translating literary texts, particularly by another student, (Libya, Egypt), or respond to the global in translations of works describing Colin Yee, who financial crisis (London, New York, Athens). discrimination into the language of the traveled to Liberia colonizer. She explores the consequences of with the help of categorizing a work as fiction, non-fiction, an International Institute Individual While revolutions are autobiography, or even literary, and how Fellowship to complete an internship with by definition political, such delineations can alter the reader’s the NGO Tiyatien Health. Health services politics also play a perception of events described in the text. in Liberia are being overwhelmed by an central role in more How are terms such as “truth” or “universal influx of refugees from political turmoil in mundane activities— truth” defined in works of literature, neighboring Ivory Coast. The internship such as the provision especially human rights literature? included conducting research on a and consumption of electricity around the community health worker program, which globe. In The Politics of Energy and What serves as a model for paid health workers. 2 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan

New Media and the Middle East: Thinking Allowed by Annabelle Sreberny

The joke goes that Mubarak dies and meets Nasser and Sadat in the afterlife. They ask him “were you poisoned or shot?” since that is how each of them perished. Mubarak shrugs and answers “Facebook!” An Egyptian family did recently name their newborn daughter Facebook.

here is no doubt that 2011 was a hour transnational news environment and Democracy Deficit? world-historical year. The insurrec­ world-encircling Internet? Evidently, not all of the Arab World is tionary wave that started in Tunis in involved, yet. The monarchies of Saudi Suddenly it seemed, as if no one had December 2010 and is still unfolding Arabia and the UAE are trying to regroup. been looking, there was the “Arab Tacross the Maghreb and Middle East has One oil-rich society, Bahrain, is in turmoil Spring”—which seems to be an Al Jazeera raised important questions about the role and its regime has behaved brutally, nominalization—a wave of socio-political of new media technologies and platforms supported when necessary by Saudi tanks; unrest that moved across the region. And in contemporary political mobilizations. so too is the poorest country in the region, for all the money, the regional specialists, There has quite possibly never been Yemen. And in the rest of the region, the research, no one saw this coming! such a dramatic set of political changes the non-Arab countries are dealing with The first approach to events by experts in contiguous nations ever before. If their home-grown dissent (the camps on and media alike was open-mouthed the revolutions of 1848 in Europe were Israeli streets; the ongoing tensions in Iran; astonishment. supposed to be inspired by each other, how while Turkey parlays a new regional role as much more might that be the case in a 24- ‘honest broker’ in some of these issues). II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 3

If oil and Islam were too limited foci for roles in the recent insurrections to topple Citizen journalists as self-appointed adequate regional analysis, the other autocratic regimes from Tunis to Cairo and contemporary historians are photographing lurking third term was “authoritarianism”or beyond. New media cannot be considered and filming events and uploading them the “Middle Eastern democracy deficit.” the epiphenomena of political movements to You-Tube for an interested globalised This was always understood as internal but are rather significant tools of political audience to find; and indeed, much of lacks and deficiencies and rarely to do mobilization. This is not to repeat the this content has been picked up and re- with Western arm-trades, political support fatuous claim that Tunisia was a “Twitter broadcast by “old” media. Whatever the for conservative regimes to protect oil revolution,” as had been claimed for the intentions of their corporate developers, supplies, or skewed notions of what counts Green Movement in Iran after the June social media in many countries are being as development. Suddenly, the region has 2009 election, nor to argue that such tools used to provide news and information revealed its deep demand for democracy are indispensible for political change. Clearly hard to come by from regime channels; to and rights, its populations have risked people have made revolution before without develop alternate narratives; to plan and life and limb for such freedoms, and the such tools. But in repressive regimes where coordinate action; and to tell each other “democracy deficit” is returned to the face-to-face public politics is extremely and the world what is going on. West, where surveillance and limits to curtailed, a platform such as Facebook Mixed Media dissent have increased while falling voting provides a space where silence and fear But we must not forget that the Middle East numbers and distrust of politicians is at an are overcome and trust can be built, where movements have all been a mix of face- all-time high. But we are also learning that social networks can turn political, and to-face politics and use of contemporary there are different kinds of authoritarian where home and diaspora can act together. small media, from social networks to mobile systems and different relations between The Islamic Republic “allowed” the use of telephony and email. The technologistic state and society. The issue of repression Facebook in the run-up to the June 2009 reduction of political movements to and authoritarianism is one where serious presidential election, and Iranians embraced “Twitter revolutions” has little explanatory areas studies can usefully challenge the it with relish, sharing family photos and value and only serves to inflate American taken-for-granted verities of disciplinary linking with friends around the world. After corporate sensibility of contributing to the approaches—where it does seem to me the election result that gave Ahmadinejad global spread of democracy. The Internet that “politics” is undergoing the biggest 68% of the vote, it was fascinating to watch is used in ways that differ from society challenge. Facebook literally turn green, individual to society. Insurrectionary movements photos replaced with signs asking “where Twitter Revolution? have grown in countries with Internet is my vote?” and the development of a It is evident that both new and old media penetration ranging from less than 2% considerable number of “green-inflected” have played significant and fascinating (Yemen) to 6% (Libya), 21–34% (Egypt and pages with news, video, and art.

Cairo, Egypt­ – February 25, 2011: An Egyptian woman walks past a wall with the word Facebook spray painted on it. Facebook was an important communications tool Egyptians used to organize the anti-government demonstrations that brought down the regime of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011.

In repressive regimes where face-to-face public politics is curtailed, a platform such as Facebook provides a space where silence and fear are overcome and trust can be built . . . and where home and diaspora can act together. 4 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan

movement, with over 100,000 followers, while new information sources such as Rasd News and Egypt News Network function mainly through Facebook.

A Mix of Places and Spaces These platforms provide instantaneity, the immediate diffusion of and access to information, and extensivity, ignoring national borders and addressing domestic and diasporic populations and foreigners alike. But such internet practices also intersect with intense face-to-face discussions in private spaces, amongst old and new collectivities. There is NO sense in which digital activities alone could have produced such social mobilization. Indeed, there is a renewed significance of place, London, United Kingdom –­ July 21, 2011: World news websites, including BBC, marked by the squares of Tahrir, Benghazi, Reuters, CNN, FOX, abc and Sky. Zuccotti, and St. Pauls. Face-to-face engagement with strangers together on a There is an important link between face- political mission is exhilarating, no matter to-face politics and more technologically- what other tools are used in the process. mediated communication. There are And as significant as the new social different forms of repressive states, . . . the Middle East media platforms has been the role of different histories of political action, and movements have all broadcasting, especially Al Jazeera Arabic differentiated access to new forms of and BBC Arabic which played a multiplier been a mix of face-to- communication, from internet platforms role in articulating the diverse events across to mobile telephony. So one-size/one- face politics and use the region, often relying on eye-witness solution doesn’t fit all. The conditions of contemporary small materials sent in by citizen journalists and mix of platforms differs from country and disseminating news of events in media, from social to country. This is not based on rational Tunis to Tripoli, Cairo and Manama. Al choice in the face of a range of available networks to mobile Jazeera English kept the rest of the world tools, as Western commentators seem to telephony and email. enthralled, with strong on-the-ground think. Tunisians faced a more pervasive coverage and moments of brilliant television police state than the Egyptians, with less direction, including the use of split-screen Tunisia) and 88% (Bahrain). These countries latitude for blogging or press freedom, to broadcast Mubarak’s last speech live have responded in different ways to popular but their trade unions were stronger and whilst showing the response in Tahrir dissent, including capitulation, negotiation, more independent. The Kefaya movement Square, the scores of shoes being thrown and violent repression. The political actors had been blogging for many years in Egypt in the air an unmistakable sign that his end who matter—those on the ground in and numerous You-Tube videos were in was fast approaching. Anecdotal evidence authoritarian regimes—have not been circulation showing police torture and suggests that both Al Jazeera Arabic and cyber-utopians but have been trying to previous bread riots. Libyans had limited BBC Arabic were shown on the big screens protect themselves from regime surveillance internet access but mobile telephony was set up in Tahrir Square and in Benghazi. with a range of Internet tools, from TOR widespread. The Syrians are functioning A sympathetic global public opinion may to encryption. Iranians were teaching each in a very difficult environment and many have played a role in the unanimous U.N. other about security and sharing proxies internet activists have set themselves up in resolution to instigate the no-fly zone over and filters long before hubristic projects Beirut, only a few hundreds miles across Libya. In the U.S., Hillary Clinton berated such as Haystack—software designed by the border. The Egyptian Facebook pages the U.S. media for its poor coverage which an American non-profit organization to We are All Khaled Said, set up by Wael was delivering audiences to Al Jazeera. combat Iranian Internet censorship—were Ghonim, and 6th of April Youth Movement dreamed up. became important nodes in a growing II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 5

National Youth Movements used in each country, and there was little About the Author We know that the demographic across invocation of either the umma or of pan- Annabelle Sreberny is Professor of Global the region is youthful and, as everywhere Arabism. But neither has there been much Media and Communications in the Centre else, where possible they have embraced evidence of concentrated social media use for Media and Film Studies and Chair of new technologies to download music and across regional borders, as distinct from the Centre for Iranian Studies at the School film and keep abreast of events around the reconnecting exiles and diasporas with their of Oriental and African Studies in London. world. These movements are about the home politics. There have been messages She is the President of the International rising expectations and rising frustrations of solidarity, including to Wisconsin and Association for Media and Communication of unemployed young men and the social Madrid, and some information has been Research. Her research focuses primarily on obstacles encountered by increasingly spread—Tunisians instructing Egyptians on the field of international communication, better educated young women, and ring how to avoid the effects of teargas. increasingly on globalization, with foci with an optimistic universalism for human on international news, questions of New media seem to offer development of rights and economic opportunities. Or at diaspora, and with a strong feminist new forms of political activism beyond the least so far. And the recent rapid diffusion orientation. For over 30 years, her work now old “new social movement” type. We of mobile telephony and cheap digital on Iran has examined the nexus of politics have seen the emergence of new kinds of cameras are pushing a more image-based and communications, from the process political actors and not only in the Middle culture and the internet-savvy generation of the 1979 revolution (Small Media, East. Witness the rapid emergence of the are quick to upload the evidence of the Big Revolution) to the emergence of a indignados in Madrid, aganaktismenoi in day onto platforms beyond the control of contemporary dynamic Persian-language Syntagma Square in Athens, UKuncut or the Mohabarat and viewed by a globalised presence on the net (Blogistan). the “occupy” movements in New York and audience. London, all of which are linked in some There is evidently more to come, in Bahrain, manner to the current global financial crisis. in Yemen, in Syria where the Facebook It remains to be seen whether and how page The Syrian Revolution had 87,000 such “spontaneous” forms of collective followers in March 2011 but 360,000 at the action endure and what, if any, their long- turn of 2012. And new policies to support term impact on national and international a free press and internet access have to be politics will be. It does seem that place written in to the new constitutions in Egypt and space, used together, might forge and Tunisia. interesting new political processes.

Clearly small, alternative media (neither controlled by states nor by big business) are not a simple answer to political repression as Athens, Greece – May, 28th 2011: Although it is almost midnight, hundreds of people Clay Shirky-style cultural optimists and Jared of all ages are gathered in Syntagma Square. They are the ’Indignant’ citizens and Cohen would have the Washington beltway demonstrate against the austerity measures announced by the government. believe. But neither are they so controlled The protests were organized via Facebook, Twitter and other social media, without and monitored by strong states that nothing the involvement of political parties or trade unions, and were inspired by Spain’s can be achieved, as the pessimists like ’Los Indignados’ movement. Evgeny Morozov would argue. When used creatively within a rich mix of local face-to- face politics, configured in the languages and symbols of national traditions, and in contexts where the older generation simply doesn’t want to give up power, it is evident that the new digital small media can punch way above their weight.

New Political Formations Crucially, the Arab Springs have revealed the ongoing significance of national politics. Visually, in news coverage, audiences have seen the important symbolism of flags 6 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan

The Politics of Energy and What it Means for the Climate

by Brian Min

n September 4, 1882, Thomas Edison More human-made greenhouse gas emissions hold on to office, as in democracies. Simply flipped a switch at his Pearl Street come from electricity production than from put, politics determines who gets power, and Station and electric lights flickered on any other single activity. Power plants, most how much power gets provided shapes the across lower Manhattan. And so of which burn fossil fuels like coal and natural trajectory of climate change. Obegan the era of electric power transmission, gas, account for a quarter of worldwide Electricity and Development setting off the relentless electrification of greenhouse gas emissions. That is nearly More than simply a modern convenience, the modern world. Yet today, 1.4 billion double the contribution that comes from access to electricity is a life-altering people continue to lack electricity, relying automobiles and the transportation sector. transformation that improves welfare and instead on kerosene, wood, and agricultural The importance of the electricity sector is enables economic development. Electric residues to meet their energy needs. Most magnified by the fact that most of the world’s light extends a day’s productive hours, of these reside in the developing world electricity suppliers are owned and managed allowing children to study after the sun where the thirst for modern energy sources by governments. Political institutions structure has set and enhancing safety at night. remains unquenched. How will these energy the rules for which supply and demand for Refrigeration allows for the preservation of needs be met? And what impact will it take energy are regulated. At an everyday level, food and medicines. Powered water pumps on the environment? The story of how governments decide how much power reduce the effort needed to collect water. governments respond to the energy needs to provide, at what cost, and with what Electric cooking stoves diminish the time of their citizens must play a larger role in the restrictions. The way these choices are needed to gather wood and other biomass dialogue over the causes and challenges of negotiated is likely to depend on whether fuels. Electricity can improve agricultural climate change. governments must rely on popular support to productivity by energizing irrigation and drainage systems and encourage industrial Electricity Consumption and Income Around the World, 2009 development by powering tools and Source: World Bank machinery. Electricity is desired everywhere and yet its provision is not universal: only some enjoy its myriad benefits while others

160,000 do not. Especially in the developing world, access to electricity is a sharp line separating those on the road to modernity from those 22,000 China likely to be mired in persistent poverty.

India The accompanying graph shows the 3000

log scale relationship between income level and electricity consumption for countries around

400 the world in 2009. The figure depicts a strong and positive relationship: people Electricity consumption per capital (kWh) in richer countries use more electricity per 50 person then those in poorer countries. At 50 400 3000 22,000 160,000 first glance, this appears intuitive. Yet, there GDP per capita (US dollars) log scale II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 7

By comparing the distribution of nighttime lights to the distribution of human populations, it is possible to generate unusually precise estimates of the proportion of a country’s population living in lit areas. This approach does not need to rely on government self-reports that might be biased by political factors. © NASA

are at least two striking features worth countries do not seem to put more effort by a slowing down of consumption or worrying about. First, there is no evidence at becoming more energy efficient. In by an increase in efficiency, the impacts that energy demands are satiated with other words, as countries become richer, it on the climate are likely to be profound. increasing wealth. This is quite different does not appear that wealth enables the The environmental strain of meeting this from many other indicators of human production of increased economic output new demand is difficult to fathom. As a welfare that tend to approach some natural with lower levels of energy inputs. Rather, result, how to meet the surging energy limit. Life expectancy, infant mortality increases in wealth result in increased needs of the poor is likely to represent one rates, literacy rates, calorie consumption, electricity use across all levels of income. of the most daunting challenges facing all improve rapidly as societies move up governments across the developing world. Combined, these two features reflect the development ladder, yet progress an agonizingly inconvenient fact about Electricity and the State eventually slows down or reaches a bound development. If current trends hold, poverty Throughout the twentieth century, the set by human biology or by achievement of alleviation around the world will occur only provision of electricity has been one some goal. Energy consumption appears to with a parallel increase in the consumption of the most expansive and expensive exhibit no such willingness to slow down at of electricity. As poverty is reduced, the undertakings facing societies around the higher levels of development. world’s energy use will grow. Because world. No country has ever completed Second, there is no indication that energy there is no obvious reason to believe that rural electrification without the intensive efficiency improves with wealth. Richer increased wealth will be accompanied financial support of its government. At 8 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan

the founding of the Soviet Union in the farms had electricity, while only 3% were continues to struggle with implementation 1920s, Vladimir Lenin famously placed electrified in Tennessee and less than 1% delays. Moreover, many of the thousands of electricity at the center of his vision of the in Mississippi. By 1943, the TVA and REA newly connected villagers have discovered future: “Communism is Soviet power plus had brought electricity to four out of ten that simply being connected to the grid the electrification of the whole country.” American farms. Within one more decade, is of limited benefit when the power is The State Commission for Electrification nine out of ten were connected. Former not working. India’s massive power deficit of Russia (GOELRO) sought to extend U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland results in frequent and relentless blackouts the power grid to the entire country and recalled, “The day the lights finally came on across huge swaths of the country. formed the basis of the first Soviet plan for at our farm, I remember my mother cried.” Juxtaposing the performance of the power national economic recovery. Implementation Outside of the industrialized world, sectors in the world’s largest autocracy and of GOELRO led to a near doubling of the electrification has been pursued with democracy raises a challenging paradox for country’s total national power output by uneven ambition and success. In China, political theorists. For theories that expect 1931 and full electrification of the entire purposeful government policies have led democracies to provide more public services Soviet Union in the years that followed. to the claimed electrification of 700 million and to distribute them more efficiently and In the U.S., meanwhile, early electric power people’s homes over the last two decades— equitably, the track records of the world’s distribution was dominated by private an achievement of unprecedented scale and most populous democracy and autocracy utilities that focused their efforts in urban scope. Overall, total electricity consumption represent an exceptional anomaly, indicate a centers. Extending the power grid from in rural China increased tenfold between limitation of our theories, or suggest that the cities to rural areas requires high fixed cost 1978 and 2000. The number of villages data underlying this paradox are unreliable. investments in infrastructure including new without electricity decreased from 55,000 Energy and Democracy power plants, long haul transmission lines, in 1993 to 9,300 in 2002. According to Recent research suggests that despite the substations, and shorter distribution lines to official estimates, over 98% of Chinese strong growth in electricity use in many non- the end user. Rural areas with low customer homes have an electrical connection today. democratic countries, democracies are more densities were unattractive markets Meanwhile just west of China in the world’s likely to prioritize the needs of the residential to profit-minded firms. By the Great most populous democracy, India has and rural sectors over the needs of industry. Depression, only one in ten rural Americans struggled mightily to electrify its rural lands. had access to electricity compared to 90% David Brown and Ahmed Mobarak analyze More people in India lack electricity than of city dwellers. With the collapse of the sectoral data on electricity consumption anywhere else in the world, accounting economy, even private power utilities in for a large number of countries and find for a third of the world total. Nearly half the most lucrative urban markets were that democracies direct more electricity a billion Indians living in over 100,000 struggling to stay solvent. Yet as critical to the residential sector than to industry, villages still had no electricity as of 2005. components of his New Deal, Franklin especially in poorer countries. This suggests That year, the government launched Roosevelt established the Tennessee that sectors with less financial clout an ambitious initiative to electrify every Valley Authority (TVA) in 1933 and Rural but a stronger voice in elections benefit unconnected village within the following Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935. under democracy. One limitation of this five years. Now in early 2012, the program At the end of 1934, only 12.1% of all U.S. claim is that it must rely on self-reported government data and excludes several Risky and chaotic electrical wiring in Old Delhi, India. The unsatisfying condition of countries for which reliable data do not wiring causes power problems in Delhi. exist. An alternative perspective on energy use comes from looking at satellite imagery of the earth at night.

By comparing the distribution of nighttime lights to the distribution of human populations, it is possible to generate estimates of the proportion of a country’s population living in lit areas. Since satellite imagery can detect low levels of light output from areas as small as a couple square kilometers, it can be used to generate unusually precise estimates of electricity provision down to the local II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 9

Recent research suggests that despite the strong growth in electricity use in many non-democratic countries, democracies are more likely to prioritize the needs of the residential and rural sectors over the needs of industry. level. Moreover, the approach does not The provision of a public service like landmark Kyoto Protocol, and Canada’s need to rely on government self-reports electricity is an appealing strategy for recent withdrawal from the pact to which that might be biased by political factors, democratic politicians since they are highly it was an original signatory, reflect political like the temptation for some agencies valued by the poor, provide broad benefits calculations as much as they do economic to manipulate their electricity access to large numbers of voters at once, and and environmental ones. figures. Additionally, the satellite-derived serve as a visible accomplishment that Third, understanding the variation in political estimates rely on sensor data that are politicians can claim credit for in campaigns. systems may help identify why some policy measured consistently across all countries Within the local geographic purview of proposals regarding climate change are more without respect to national borders. This these basic services, positive externalities are welcome in some nations and less in others. is important since many official statistics high and their benefits are often non-rival The key sources of domestic opposition and are heavily dependent on country-specific and non-excludable. Electrification benefits support might differ substantially across definitions of what it means for a village or everyone in a village by providing streetlights countries with different political systems like household to be classified as “electrified.” at night, bringing in entertainment and India and China. Recognizing this implies news via televisions and radios, and enabling The satellite-derived estimates of electricity that one-size-fits-all solutions are unlikely local market opportunities. The spillover access count some 1.4 billion people living and more innovative proposals are needed benefits that flow from public services are in areas that emit no consistent light output that reflect the political constraints shaped especially valued by the poor who have few detectable from space. Almost all of these by national leaders in different kinds of outside options to acquire these benefits. are concentrated in the developing world, political environments. Even for those who cannot afford a direct mostly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan household connection or pricey electrical All of this implies the need to incorporate Africa. Yet while level of development is appliances, there are still many conveniences improved political analysis in the dialogue an important predictor of electricity access, of living in an electrified village that are regarding climate change. As economies there are also dramatic differences across absent in places that go pitch black once grow, so too will the thirst for electricity. regime types. Overall, democracies provide the sun sets. Moreover, since states are near- The ways in which that thirst is quenched— electricity to 10% more of their citizens monopoly providers of many public services, and the attendant impacts on our climate— than do non-democracies. This is true politicians can act as influential middlemen, will be shaped by political institutions in even after accounting for the potential mediating the delivery of critical public ways that should not be ignored. confounding effects of wealth, population services to their voters. density, geography, and other factors. The results strongly affirm the power of What do such patterns mean for the About the Author democratic elections in inducing higher climate? First, it suggests that not all Brian Min is Assistant Professor of public service delivery, even in contexts governments are likely to respond in the Political Science and a CICS International where state capacity appear low. same way to the growing energy demands Security and Development Fellow for of their citizens. Democracies are likely to Democracy and the Climate 2012. He studies the political economy be more responsive to their citizens, but Both theory and empirical evidence of development with an emphasis on that implies a potentially double-edged demonstrate that democracies differ India and Sub-Saharan Africa. His current sword in which the broader provision of fundamentally from non-democratic research uses satellite imagery of nighttime electrical power is accompanied by growing regimes in the way they empower citizens lights and other geo-coded data to show strains on the environment. via elections. To win the necessary support how the distribution of electricity is shaped required to maintain office, democratic Second, acknowledging the constraints by electoral politics across the developing leaders must court large numbers of voters, imposed by the domestic political world. His dissertation on the subject resulting in an institutional incentive to environment can also help in understanding received APSA’s 2011 Gabriel Almond invest more heavily in public goods and why achieving a global consensus around Award. He has also conducted research services. In the developing world, basic a course of action to mitigate climate on ethnic politics and conflict, with public services like electricity, clean water, change is so difficult. The unwillingness publications appearing in World Politics and and education are priority issues for voters. of the American Congress to consider the the American Sociological Review. 10 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan

Translating Human Rights Testimonies

by Christi A. Merrill

Only a few pages into Ajay Navariya’s harrowing 2004 short story “Subcontinent,” the narrator recalls a traumatic scene from his childhood in which he watches helplessly as a gang of upper-caste men beat up his father within an inch of his life. The attackers were incensed that an “untouchable” (or “achut” in the Hindi) would have the audacity to return to the village in a clean new kurta, rupees in his pocket, greeting friends comfortably, and holding his head high.

n our translation of the story, Laura reader’s mind with whom we are meant Joothan: A Dalit’s Life. In Valmiki’s world, Brueck and I have decided to maintain a to sympathize. However, as one of the a new headmaster can order a boy out range of registers analogous to what we translators I worry that the portrayal of of the classroom: “Go… And sweep the see in the Hindi, but have chosen not to the good and bad characters might be too whole school clean as a mirror. It is, after Ioffer bald explanations for details that an polarized, and that the dramatization is so all, your family occupation.”—simply insider might recognize as part of the daily heightened as to seem exaggerated, even because he rejects the laws of a newly- discourse of discrimination against Dalits. implausible, in English. How can I reassure independent India insisting everyone my readers that, however fictionalized, the has a right to education. Like Navariya, Translator’s Influence story does indeed offer a legitimate protest Valmiki employs literary techniques that Instead we refer to them in passing in against ongoing human rights violations lead us to sympathize with the young such a way that we might initiate English- Navariya and other Dalits have faced? narrator’s profound feelings of humiliation language readers in America unfamiliar and disappointment that “the other with such acts, just as Navariya seems to Fiction or Nonfiction? children in my class were studying and I be initiating potential upper-caste Hindi For scenes such as these I want Navariya was sweeping.” I would like to think that readers in India. “They think they can to call his writing nonfiction so that I can calling this account a work of nonfiction piss on our heads just because they live point to the label as evidence for any might render believable the headmaster’s in the city? They’ve forgotten what their disbelieving readers, the way I brandish outrageous behavior, but such a claim birth means,” one of the gang growls Arun Mukherjee’s English translation of just raises more complex questions about between kicks. There is no question in this Omprakash Valmiki’s 1997 autobiography, how our collective institutions of literary interpretation distinguish fiction from nonfiction, and what the ideological stakes are of such distinctions.

Negotiating Literary Expectations Admittedly the lines between fact and fiction or truth and falsehood are never very straightforward; this ambiguity is even more pronounced when reading literature of protest in translation. How far should the suspension-of-disbelief literary compact extend when reading work that purports to represent actual experience? An 1858 engraving showing Calcutta from the esplanade. British troops and a lady with Just as every practicing translator is aware her children can be seen mixing with Indians. Engraver unknown. Photo by D. Walker. of the discrepancy between the perfect II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 11

translation in the ideal world and the tier of of deeming a work “literary” or no, and aid in legal disputes, but whenever there compromises one is forced to make, so too how that qualifier is in tension with the was a discrepancy of interpretation, only does an author striving to convey real-world expectations of legitimacy from work the meaning expressed by the English concerns to an imaginary (and sometimes protesting real-life human rights abuses. version would be binding. This was because hostile) audience set priorities and make Wheaton “defines international law Valmiki describes coming into consciousness calculations about what strategies will be among civilized nations,” and China was as Dalit (literally, “downtrodden”) and most effective. Every participant in the considered only “semi-civilized.” organizes his entire narrative around rejecting literary enterprise (from author to translator the “barbaric civilization” that has rendered Eric Cheyfitz’s The Poetics of Imperialism to editor to reader) necessarily has to him untouchable. Might there be another likewise argues that the legal concept of decide if it is acceptable for a protagonist way for a subaltern subject from a former private property the British brought to the to recount the death of a father by a racist mob or of a brother from starvation (to cite the controversial examples of Malcolm X Every participant in the literary enterprise (from author and Rigoberta Menchu) in order to make a larger point about systemic injustices to translator to editor to reader) necessarily has to decide against a minority group, even if those if it is acceptable for a protagonist to recount the death horrifying events happened instead to of a father by a racist mob or of a brother from starvation someone else’s father or brother. (to cite the controversial examples of Malcolm X and That the narrators of these accounts are Rigoberta Menchu) in order to make a larger point about activists crafting their stories in order to influence public opinion and effect change systemic injustices against a minority group . . . at home only raises the stakes of our provisional answers. Do we accept the colonized country to gain authority for his Caribbean was based on an assumption claims of some defenders that the “self” in narrative than to have the details of his life of cultural superiority and was itself the an autobiography of an African-American taken as evidence? On what basis are we to product of a particular local debate in man or in a testimonio of an indigenous judge the validity of a story like Navariya’s? England over enclosing the commons, Guatemalan woman should be understood an ideological stance that was forced Colonialism and Human Rights as representative of an entire oppressed onto the native population in ways both As I’ve suggested, often human rights people, and so the facts of which individual administrative and cultural. (Private property literature in translation is seen as doubly experienced which degree of violence are was equated with being civilized, and suspect, since not just the writer but the incidental? At the other extreme, should we property held in common was thought translator is seen to be tampering with the rely primarily on the equally ideologically- to be the mark of wild savagery.) It’s the truth. Rather than defend against such driven research methods of a historian moralistic, “civilizing” mission of the charges, I would rather focus on our work or anthropologist when endeavoring to imperial project that is particularly relevant as readers and inquire into the ways we ascertain the truth of these scenes? to literary exchange, especially in work mark the line between truth and fiction addressing issues of human rights. Dalit As a literature scholar I understand that part when engaging with work in translation. writers like Navariya and Valmiki issue an of what is being negotiated here are the Postcolonial literature scholars have taught appeal, inviting their readers to form a contours of our own generic expectations. us to question the universals like “truth” negative judgment against the traditional And as a postcolonial studies scholar I underwriting most of our moral judgments, society in which they grew up and to take recognize the dangers of assuming these and to be wary of simplistic equivalents. For their side in deeming casteism wrong. generic expectations to be universal and example, Lydia Liu’s article “Legislating the How might translators like Laura Brueck self-evident. (Put crudely, in such situations Universal: The Circulation of International and myself participate in these exchanges those more powerful get to decide what Law in the Nineteenth Century” outlines without replicating Orientalist translation versions of truth are acceptable, according the contentious history of a phrase such as practices? to rules most familiar to them.) As a “universal human rights” in 19th century translator of postcolonial writing such as China. W.A.P. Martin’s 1864 Chinese Interpreting Experience Navariya’s, I need to be especially attentive translation of Henry Wheaton’s Elements In Siting Translation, Tejaswini Niranjana to the political and ethical implications of International Law was provided as an argues that one of the most insidious 12 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan aspects of the colonial project was the How does this particular version of rights (“jor” in moral superiority of the British translator, and the assumption that Indian natives Rajasthani) translate into the hegemonic language of were inferior, childlike, and thus unable world literature, which also happens to be the language to handle their own affairs. This attitude of the former colonizer? not only justified colonial intervention but safeguarded an approach to translation abuse and ethnic violence. In his deft hands I suggest that a primary goal of translation premised upon (in Niranjana’s words): “a) the stirring lines from traditional Rajasthani should be to challenge the historically the need for translation by the European, war ballads vowing to fight to the death unidirectional flow of knowledge and since the natives are unreliable interpreters suddenly sounded jingoistic and silly and power by allowing the complicated history of their own laws and culture; b) the desire the cheers for a legendary hero for winning of such “jor” to shape the discourse of to be a lawgiver, to give the Indians their the hand of the young princess assumed universal human rights in English. After ‘own’ laws; and c) the desire to ‘purify’ a fine gendered irony when the hero was all, notes Liu, one of the problems with Indian cultures and speak on its behalf.” revealed to be a young woman in drag. Wheaton’s Elements of International Law is In her famous essay “Can the Subaltern that he “simply equates Christianity with the Speak?” Gayatri Spivak too warns against I understood that the delightful moral twists universal and refuses to consider reciprocity.” the moral superiority inherent in reproducing were that much more effective because Now with Navariya story’s “Subcontinent” the reductive formula of “white men saving the context and manner of the telling were I must ask how we might define “truth” in brown women from brown men.” Someone performing an updated and exceedingly our reading of human rights literature so that could argue that in the case of caste-based critical version of local folk culture. His writing we are less convinced of the moral superiority discrimination, Dalit writers like Navariya foregrounded the importance of the literary— of our own stance and more attentive to the and Valmiki are self-empowered and are How to maintain this tension between the range of interpretations suggested by other thus saving themselves from the upper-caste feigned backwardness of the telling and a literary traditions than English. status quo, aided by their translators who progressive sensibility when translating into are simply transparent conduits. However, the globalizing language of English? such thinking contradicts everything Universal “Rights” and “Truth” About the Author we have learned about translation from In my first book, Riddles of Belonging: India Christi Merrill is a CICS Human Rights Fellow postcolonial studies, especially when our in Translation and Other Tales of Possession and Associate Professor of Comparative institutions of interpretation suspect them (Fordham University Press, 2009), I focused Literature and Asian Languages and Cultures. of being unreliable interpreters of their own on the ways the complex meaning of a She received her Ph.D. in Comparative experiences. humorous story cannot be understood in Literature, as well as a MFA in Translation I grappled with similar issues in my first the simplistic terms of whether or not the and MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the book-length project translating the oral- subaltern can speak. The exercise helped University of Iowa. She is the author of based stories of the award-winning me to formulate a strategy I could rely on Riddles of Belonging: India in Translation and contemporary Indian writer Vijay Dan when translating stories for the two-volume Other Tales of Possession (2009) and the Detha. Then, too, the many centuries of collection, Chouboli and Other Stories. In the translator of the fiction of Vijay Dan Detha, debate in English over the proper ways to second chapter of Riddles of Belonging, for Chouboli and Other Stories (2010). She translate did little to help me defend myself example, I reflect on the exuberant narrator received a fellowship at the University of against accusations in postcolonial studies of the riddling storytelling cycle “Chouboli” Michigan’s Institute for the Humanities contending that translation was necessarily asking off-handedly, “What right did she (2006-7), at Cornell University’s Society for part of any dominating project, and did have to object?” when recounting the nightly the Humanities (2004-5), and the National little to help me to formulate a more abuse a sequestered petty queen receives Endowment for the Arts (2002-3). She has complicated practice beyond the vague at the hands of her preening husband. I in near-native fluency reading, speaking, and absolutes of being faithful or unfaithful. turn asked: How does this particular version writing Hindi; proficiency in French, Detha’s prose was particularly challenging: of rights (“jor” in Rajasthani) translate into Rajasthani, and Urdu; and reading he adapted the wry humor associated with the hegemonic language of world literature, knowledge of Sanskrit and Latin. She recently local storytelling traditions strategically to which also happens to be the language of received the A.K. Ramanujan Book Prize from cast a surprising light on otherwise serious the former colonizer? the South Asia Council of the Association of (and literally deadly) topics such as spouse Asian Studies for the Detha translations. II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 13

Burmese Change: Opportunities for Myanmar?

by Dominic Nardi

n October 25, 2011, the University transition to what the new constitution towards reform. President Thein Sein has of Michigan Wallenberg Committee called a “discipline-flourishing democracy,” legalized trade unions, relaxed censorship, awarded Aung San Suu Kyi (Daw the NLD boycotted the November 2010 pursued currency reform, released hundreds Suu) the 21st Raoul Wallenberg elections. The junta’s favored party, the of political prisoners, and suspended OMedal in absentia for her non-violent Union Solidarity and Development Party construction of the unpopular Myitsone struggle on behalf of democracy and human (USDP), won just under 80% of the Dam. Under Speaker Thura Shwe Mann’s rights in Myanmar (formerly known as contested seats in the new legislature leadership the lower chamber of the Burma—in 1989, the government changed (the Hluttaw). While the former military legislature (Pyithu Hluttaw) has become the official English-language name “Burma” chief, Senior General Than Shwe, officially much more than a rubber-stamp for to “Myanmar”—Myanmar appears rather retired when the new government was the military’s agenda. Shwe Mann has than Burma throughout this article). inaugurated last March, the political even formed oversight committees and Myanmar’s military rulers had kept Daw Suu leadership largely hails from the military, encouraged the opposition to propose bills. under house arrest for much of the past 24 many from the upper echelons of the The military itself has largely stayed out of years and only released her on November former junta. politics and military MPs vote with their 13, 2010. Ironically, by the time I delivered legislative leaders, not as a unified bloc. Despite the fears of many observers, the medal to her in Yangon last December, Myanmar’s elites did not simply trade in Even more remarkable is the change in the government had inched towards their military uniforms for business suits, the political atmosphere. One can now Daw Suu’s vision of greater freedom and but rather took genuine if gradual steps hear citizens in teashops discussing politics democracy.

The Wallenberg Committee didn’t predict— Pedestrians walk past a poster-and-stationary shop where a poster of Aung San Suu indeed couldn’t have expected—these Kyi is displayed for sale. developments when selecting Aung San Suu Kyi for the award. Since 1988, the military had ruled Myanmar directly. The junta announced elections for 1990, but reneged when Daw Suu’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won over 80% of the seats. Instead, the junta formed its own national convention to draft a new constitution that guaranteed the military 25% of legislative seats. The constitution was approved via referendum in May 2008 with a suspiciously high 93.82% approval.

Transformations Given the skepticism surrounding the 14 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan without fear. The local media—including divided cabinet, where only a handful of Even more remarkable is the government-owned New Light of ministers fully support the reform agenda. Myanmar—report on Daw Suu’s every By contrast, Shwe Mann is focused on the change in the political move, often quite favorably. Street vendors consolidating his support amongst MPs atmosphere. One can now now sell posters and calendars with Daw so that the Pyithu Hluttaw nominates him hear citizens in teashops Suu’s photos on them (fashion models must for president in 2015. The two branches discussing politics without be concerned that a 67-year-old politician constantly fight over the limits of their has taken their place on the 2012 calendar). institutional powers, most recently in March fear. Perhaps most dramatically, where billboards when Shwe Mann forced through a bill to in downtown Yangon once proclaimed the raise the salaries of civil servants in order to “People’s Desires” (see photo) they now combat corruption. Ironically, this might be for Democracy. While Daw Suu herself is feature Aung San Suu Kyi’s profile and ads just what Senior General Than Shwe had universally respected, some of the smaller for an NLD education benefit concert. hoped for before he retired; by fighting parties also resent the NLD’s star power. amongst themselves, the reformers would Aung San Suu Kyi herself has begun the The new government must find a more not be able to unite and arrest him. transformation from resistance leader to equitable and permanent distribution of politician. After meeting with President Myanmar has a single-member district power and resources with the country’s Thein Sein in August, Daw Suu and the plurality voting system, which should lead ethnic minorities. The country’s largest ethnic NLD decided to participate in the political to a two-party system. Yet, the political majority group, the Burmans, comprise two-thirds of the population and occupy the central part of the country, while the Shan (approximately 10% of the population), Karen (7%), Rakhine (4%), and Kachin (1%) populate the borders. Since Myanmar’s independence, many of the minorities have sought greater autonomy or even independence from the union government, leading to dozens of insurgencies and low- level civil wars. During the 1990s, the junta reached ceasefires with 17 of the ethnic militias, but these agreements tended to dispense spoils to local elites rather than address their deeper demands. The new constitution created state-level legislatures in ethnic-dominated regions, although the A propaganda sign in Mandalay. Photo by the author. union government still possesses exclusive jurisdiction over education, natural resources, process. On April 1, the NLD ran candidates party system remains desperately fractured. and other key issues. in 44 by-elections and won 43 seats, Overall, the military and USDP combined Unfortunately, if anything, relations compared to the USDP’s one. Even more control around 80% of the seats, while the between the minorities and the national surprising, it won all four constituencies in opposition consists of over a dozen parties. government have only deteriorated since Nayptitaw, which is dominated by military Even the NLD, which is set to become the the elections. The government has tried— and civil service personnel. Daw Suu herself largest opposition party, controls just under largely unsuccessfully—to co-opt ethnic won a seat from Kawhmu district with an 7% of the total. Moreover, many of the militias into the Border Guard Forces. Even estimated 70-80% of the vote. splinter parties stem from deep personality more troubling, last summer, skirmishes rather than ideological differences. When The Challenges broke out between the military and the the NLD had decided to boycott the 2010 Ironically, over the next few months the Kachin Independence Army. In addition elections, a group of Young Turks split off greatest threat to democratization might to leaving 45,000 internally displaced to form the National Democratic Force. come from infighting amongst reformers. and hundreds dead, the fighting has also After the elections, a dispute regarding The new system of checks and balances eroded the little trust that had developed. financial records in the NDF led several key has led politicians to protect their turf. In December, 2011, President Thein Sein members to form the New National League As president, Thein Sein must manage a ordered a halt to the offensive, but the II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 15

army pressed on, prompting Kachin leaders to question his authority.

These divisions threaten not only the pace of reform, but also its survival. Myanmar’s glasnost is not yet irreversible. The military, which originally came to power in 1962 citing political fractionalization and ethnic separatism, remains the country’s most powerful institution. While the competition between Thein Sein and Shwe Mann might pale next to Washington, D.C., politics, to the military it might evoke the “chaos” of the 1950s. USDP hardliners privately invoke the specter of Senior General Than Shwe in order to dampen the pace of reform. Moreover, the reforms have not yet directly threatened the military’s privileges and power. If they do so, or if the NLD wins a majority in the 2015 general elections, it is far from clear that the military would The author with Aung San Suu Kyi, who was awarded the 21st Raoul Wallenberg remain as passive as it has these past few Medal in absentia for her non-violent struggle on behalf of democracy and human months. rights in Myanmar. The Opportunity With this mix of grave challenges and a “Boston mafia” and hope to develop About the Author high expectations, 2012 will be critical a broader relationship with American Dominic Nardi is a Ph.D. student at the for Myanmar’s political development. It educational institutions. University of Michigan in the Political is also arguably the first time when the Science Department. He is interested in In awarding Aung San Suu Kyi the United States is in a position to provide judicial politics in developing countries, Wallenberg Medal, the University of constructive assistance. Both sides hailed particularly Burma, the Philippines, Michigan has already taken a step towards Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit Indonesia, and Thailand. He has also worked promoting democracy and human dignity in early December as the beginning of a for legal organizations in Indonesia and in Myanmar (and incidentally associated new era in U.S.-Myanmar relations. While the Philippines and has published articles itself with the country’s most popular there, she announced a major concession: about judicial politics in Southeast Asia figure). The university boasts top experts the U.S. would no longer veto World both in law reviews and popular media. across the natural and social sciences, as Bank development projects for Myanmar. He travelled to Burma in December, 2011 well as the means to share that knowledge USAID is also considering restarting aid on a special mission for U-M to deliver the with Myanmar. There is precedent for such to Myanmar, which could unleash a flood Wallenberg Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi. a relationship; many of the Philippines’ of development activity. Already, one can The humanitarian award is named after a current political leaders and judges received find more Western expats in the country’s U-M alumnus who saved tens of thousands training at the University of Michigan. hotels. of Jews near the end of World War II. When I met with Aung San Suu Kyi, she Past recipients include the Dalai Lama and There is also a unique opportunity for expressed her desire that one day—when Archbishop Desmond Tutu. When Suu Kyi American universities to engage with Myanmar becomes a democracy and she can was given the Wallenberg last year, she Myanmar. Fifty years of military rule have leave the country freely—she could visit Ann could not attend the ceremony in Ann Arbor devastated the education system with a Arbor to thank us personally for our support. because she feared if she left Burma, the focus on quantity rather than quality. The Hopefully, we can speed that day along by government would not allow her to return. U.S. Information Center and local NGOs sharing our expertise with her country. regularly invite foreign experts to discuss constitutional law and democratic politics. However, some Myanmar intellectuals already worry about the dominance of 16 II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan

Health through Accompaniment in Rural Liberia by Colin Yee

ince the conclusion of its 14-year on the home visits and services provided by 125 mi civil war, Liberia has been rebuilding accompaniers to rural patients. its government, infrastructure, 125 km Guinea N Field Site and Organization Background and health delivery system. Serious Sierra The Liberian town of Zwedru is located in Sdeficiencies in any of these areas impose Leone Kolahun Grand Gedeh County of Southeast Liberia, significant impediments to health, especially Yekepa near the country’s border with the Ivory Tubmanburg for those living in the rural areas of Liberia. Gbanga Cote Kakata Coast. Tiyatien Health (TH) is a community- The country was left with 51 governmental Roberts- Kle D’Ivoire port Tapeta based health organization that was doctors for four million people, and an Monrovia Buchanan founded in Zwedru by survivors of Liberia’s even sparser health delivery system. Broad Zwedru civil war in 2007. Since then, TH has been structural changes (such as policymaking LIBERIA Greenville working diligently to extend basic health and infrastructure improvements) have Grand Cess and social services to communities across helped to improve the country’s capacity for Harper Atlantic Ocean Southeast Liberia. In the months leading providing basic health and social services. up to my internship, political turmoil in the However, these changes are slow to Ivory Coast led to widespread violence, manifest themselves in the country’s rural which inevitably made its way across the communities, where they are most needed. complete a summer internship in 2011 with Liberian border. Southeast Liberia was Conventional health care models relying Tiyatien Health in Zwedru, Liberia conducting dealing with a massive influx of Ivorian heavily on well-staffed and well-funded research on its community health worker refugees by the time my internship began, hospitals have thus far failed to reach rural (“accompanier”) program. The goal of the and their numbers were increasing every Liberians, 60% of whom still lack access internship was to increase the capacity and day. Grand Gedeh County was dealing with to health care. Through an International support of this innovative community-based the addition of over 75,000 refugees, while Institute Individual Fellowship, I was able to program, and conduct qualitative research its neighbor to the north, Nimba County, received over 100,000 refugees. The A home visit attended by the author with accompanier Sam, to a rural home in population of Grand Gedeh County before Zwedru, Liberia. the refugee crisis was nearly 120,000 people, and this population increase of over 50% exacerbated the numerous strains on an already over-stretched health delivery system.

Project Methodology Qualitative research and narrative collecting requires a great deal of trust and familiarity between the members of both parties in order to be successful. Therefore, the initial stages of my internship largely consisted of making general observations of the II Journal Spring 2012 University of Michigan 17 organization and community, as well as The collection of personal accounts of It has been shown that establishing relationships with the staff the program and of accompaniers will of Tiyatien Health (TH). We used various help TH advocate for their workers and health outcomes for techniques to assess the accompanier aid in shaping the future direction of the patients are drastically program. Formal interviews were performed program. Having an accurate lens on the improved with the presence with many of TH’s accompaniers. These day-to-day work and personal lives of of a paid community health interviews elucidated many aspects of the accompaniers helps funding entities and accompanier role within TH, as well as the supporters understand the program beyond worker (by 60%). program’s areas of excellence, and areas statistics and figures. This is especially needing improvement. Informal discussions critical since, contrary to the more common were also held to delve further into the voluntary community health worker personal lives of TH’s accompaniers to programs, TH pays its community health my passion for and commitment to gain perspective on the broader context in workers a salary for what is essentially a global health and social justice. I was which these individuals live and work. As full-time position. It has also been shown able to experience the challenges of I developed friendships and trust with the that health outcomes for patients are addressing global health delivery systems accompaniers, I began to attend patient drastically improved with the presence of a from various perspectives: on-the-ground home visits with them, where I was able paid community health worker (by 60%). experience with patients and community to observe exactly how the accompaniers However, the monthly stipend that TH is health workers, grassroots community interact with their patients and the role that currently able to provide is inadequate for organizing, local NGO collaboration, and the accompaniers play in their lives. many accompaniers to support themselves policymaking. I hope to continue working and their families, requiring them to find with organizations like Tiyatien Health, who Outcomes supplemental forms of income. engage in the broad movement for global Through the research conducted during my health equity and social justice. summer internship with Tiyatien Health, Future Implications aspects of TH’s innovative accompanier In the coming years, Tiyatien Health will program were uncovered that may aid in continue to develop and improve its About the Author the program’s further development and accompanier program. My 2011 summer Colin Yee is a graduating senior majoring in improvement. Interviews and discussions internship helped provide important Anthropology and Cellular and Molecular with the accompaniers and their patients information and perspectives for this Biology at the University of Michigan. helped to clearly articulate the areas of process and will shed more light on this He was the recipient of an International constraint for the program. Although relatively uncommon community health Institute Individual Fellowship, a Raoul the accompaniers were optimistic about worker system. Additionally, the internship Wallenberg International Summer Travel the progress of their work, they raised is a model for the role future undergraduate Fellowship, a LSA Global Opportunity numerous concerns with the existing university students can play within a Scholarship, and a Department of program, including the size of the monthly burgeoning, grassroots health organization. Anthropology Fellowship for an Internship stipends and deficiencies in transportation, My summer internship with Tiyatien with NGO Tiyatien Health in Zwedru, training, and communication. The stipend Health enhanced my own personal and Liberia in the summer of 2011. issue was the most talked-about concern. professional development, and deepened The accompaniers stated that they receive too little money for their work because Accompanier and TH staff member, Thomas, walking to a home visit in a rural village. they expend extensive amounts of time and effort to visit their patients, and often need to use their own money to provide various patient services (such as food and transportation to the hospital). They also advocated for motorbikes, instead of bicycles or walking, to help them reach their patients faster and easier, along with better training in health care, including training manuals and quarterly training sessions. International Institute University of Michigan School of Social Work Building 1080 South University Ave. Suite 2660 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106 Journal

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