Humanitarianism and Technology: agents, actions and orders Call for Papers for 56th ISA Annual Convention, February 18-21, 2015, New Orleans Panel Abstract: This panel aims to address the intersection of humanitarianism and technology, questioning the use(s) of technology in humanitarian governance and the presentation of technologies as humanitarian. Technology and humanitarian action have a long relationship while international action and analysis is increasingly concerned with both humanitarian sensibilities and technological possibilities. From the use of simple arm bands to govern famine relief; surveillance systems for pre-emptive humanitarian intervention; SMS messaging in natural disasters; non-lethal weapons systems and drones for delivering medicines, technology is being linked to humanitarian action or presented as having humanitarian uses/affects. As humanitarianism is traditionally concerned with the relief of human suffering through the provision of basic needs in emergencies by other humans driven by universal ideas of humanity many questions arise when technologies are used for humanitarian governance or presented as having humanitarian possibilities. Meanwhile technologies, simple and complex, are presented as a solution to a range of socio-political problems. Has humanitarianism always utilised technology? What happens to the human in interactions with technology? How do we reconcile technological specificity with a universal humanity? And what does the use of technology mean for humanitarian governance in the past, present and future? Please submit an abstract of 200 words by Wednesday 28th May to Polly Pallister-Wilkins p.e.pallister-wilkins@uva.nl. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions and also feel free to circulate to all you networks. Thank you, Polly Pallister-Wilkins Assistant Professor Department of Politics University of Amsterdam