Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 2, Issue 1, Fall 2016 | Page 44

Global Security and Intelligence Studies
conceal state interests while Franck and Rodley (1973) emphasize that humanitarian
norms provide great potential for major powers to engage in self-interested pursuits.
Others caution against state utilization of economic and military resources for
pursuing anything short of national interests defined as self-interested motivations.
Bellamy (2003) suggests realists oppose humanitarian interventions because military
activities to simply aid others do not work and are not vital to the national interest.
Wheeler (2000, 30) explains that “states will not intervene for primarily humanitarian
reasons because they are always motivated by considerations of national self-interest.”
While some caution against using foreign policy for philanthropy, others might accept
intervention in order to help those in need as long as it does not challenge state security
interests, impose high financial costs, or result in loss of life (see Wheeler 2004).
Humanitarian operations may be interpreted through a long-term strategic
perspective. States might take part in humanitarian actions if they promote efforts
to balance against a rival, attain economic goals, or to enhance regional stability. A
state might be able to safeguard or improve its image or even build goodwill and trust
with other states in a region deemed vital to the national interest (Farer 2005, 228).
However, as we observe in the next section of this article, human security concerns
converged with strategic considerations in Operation Damayan. Consequently, we
cannot separate self-interested state motivations from humanitarian considerations
(see figure 1).
Figure 1: Interactive Framework
Operation Damayan
On November 8, 2013, for 16 hours, Category 5 super Typhoon Yolanda swept
through six provinces in the Philippines, killing more than 6,000, displacing
670,000, affecting roughly 11.3 million people, and causing between $6.5 billion
and $15 billion in damages (see figure 2) (Agence France-Presse 2013; Gladstone 2013;
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