Localisation beyond the international–local divide: paternalism and politicisation in humanitarian response in Dominica and Turkey

Abstract

The humanitarian sector has been challenging power relationships between international and local actors for decades, attempting to move towards a mode of operation where local knowledge and capacity are central. The sector is thus striving to promote a more inclusive approach to aid delivery through localisation. Existing literature largely focuses on power imbalances between international and local actors. However, power imbalances among local actors can also undermine localisation efforts, meaning that affected communities do not always support or benefit from a shift in power to national and local actors. In this paper, we present a most‐different case comparison of the refugee response in Turkey and the Hurricane Maria response in Dominica, drawing on 110 interviews. We argue that dynamics of paternalism and politicisation among local actors in the same country can undermine localisation's goal of providing inclusive and needs‐based assistance. When funders do not account for such dynamics, we posit, localisation can reinforce, rather than alleviate, inequality and marginalisation.