Institutional Roadblocks to Human Rights Mainstreaming in the FAO: A Tale of Silo Culture in the United Nations System PDF
Preview Institutional Roadblocks to Human Rights Mainstreaming in the FAO: A Tale of Silo Culture in the United Nations System
Studien des Leibniz-Instituts Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung Carolin Anthes Institutional Roadblocks to Human Rights Mainstreaming in the FAO A Tale of Silo Culture in the United Nations System Studien des Leibniz-Instituts Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung In der Schriftenreihe werden grundlegende Forschungsergebnisse aus dem Institut, Beiträge zum friedens- und sicherheitspolitischen Diskurs sowie Begleitpublika- tionen zu den wissenschaftlichen Tagungen der HSFK veröffentlicht. Die Studien unterliegen einem externen Gutachterverfahren. Die Reihe wird herausgegeben vom Leibniz-Institut Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK/ PRIF), Frankfurt am Main. The series publishes elementary research findings from the Institute, contributions to the peace and security discourse and accompanying publications to PRIF's scientific conferences. The studies are subject to an external review procedure. The series is published by Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF/HSFK), Frankfurt am Main. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/15640 Carolin Anthes Institutional Roadblocks to Human Rights Mainstreaming in the FAO A Tale of Silo Culture in the United Nations System Carolin Anthes Frankfurt/Main, Germany Dissertation, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, 2018 D.30 Additional material to this book can be downloaded from http://www.springer.com/978-3-658-27759-8. ISSN 2662-3544 ISSN 2662-3552 (electronic) Studien des Leibniz-Instituts Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung ISBN 978-3-658-27758-1 ISBN 978-3-658-27759-8 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-27759-8 Springer VS © Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature 2020 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer VS imprint is published by the registered company Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH part of Springer Nature. The registered company address is: Abraham-Lincoln-Str. 46, 65189 Wiesbaden, Germany To all the valiant “silo fighters” out there Acknowledgements All journeys start with a quest, the call to venture into the unknown. What then unfolds may be portrayed as the “hero’s journey,” following Joseph Campbell’s inspiring work on mythology (Campbell 2004). On any other day, I would re- frain from putting myself into the shoes of a “hero,” even if figuratively. But today is a day to turn inwards, look back and reflect on all those intense years of my at times arduous, at times exhilarating PhD journey, which, in many ways, resembled a hero’s adventure. May a metaphor help shed the light of gratitude on a truly life-changing journey. In the beginning, the hero often refuses to heed the call to adventure. Admit- tedly, so did I – even quite some time into the PhD process, during which I often wandered off in other directions by traveling to conferences, accepting a fellow- ship, or working as a UN consultant. After a period of persistent yet valuable distraction, I finally committed myself, becoming aware that I had to live through the challenge in order to overcome it. Shortly afterwards, my “supernatural help- er” revealed itself on a trip to Southern India: A little green frog, which demon- strated that giving up is not a viable option and perseverance will be rewarded – in the frog and human world alike. I crossed the threshold into the adventure by immersing myself in field research in Geneva and Rome in the following months. Here I was, in the midst of my research project, where challenges, trials, and temptations were abundant and where some dragons and demons had to be faced and slain along the way. But there were also a great number of helpers and men- tors I would not want to fail to acknowledge. The PhD defense in late 2018 marked the achievement of the initial goal. However, the publication process ensures that the full-fledged “return” from the adventure is still unfolding. Without the comforting support and at times challenging nudges of all the helpers and mentors along my path it would all have been so different and, as I am convinced in retrospect, not possible. First, I would like to express my grati- tude to my PhD supervisors. I thank Christopher Daase for giving me the gener- ous and trusting space to venture out and do things my own way, which allowed this PhD journey to evolve into one of my greatest teachers. Tanja Brühl has been an indispensable support on this journey, always available in critical mo- ments to give the kind of intelligent, constructive, and motivational advice any PhD student hopes for. She has been a dear mentor for far longer than the unfold- ing of this particular adventure, always believing in my potential, for which I am immensely grateful. As a frog would struggle to survive without its biotope, the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) was the institutional and intellectual home base of my VIII Acknowledgements project. I am indebted for its generous support on so many levels, as it supported my project in the course of field research stays, the final writing retreat in San Diego, as well as throughout the publication process of this book. Being sur- rounded by colleagues in Research Department II and beyond, who exhibited such strong dedication to their work while always having an open ear for others, was a source of inspiration. The co-travelers of PRIF’s PhD colloquium provided a vibrant community spirit and strong mutual support and made life and the “road of trials” so much more bearable and fun. I am grateful for now being able to call many of them dear friends. This extends to Viola Niemack, an incredibly loyal helper and friend in the PRIF biotope, to whom I owe a lot. I also would like to express my gratitude to Klaus-Dieter Wolf, Dirk Peters, Annika Elena Poppe, Aviv Melamud, Ellie Rosert, Antonia Witt, Sebastian Schindler, Thorsten Thiel, Daniel Avelino, and Charlotte Dany for crucial motivational conversations along the way, and to Gregor Hofmann and Max Lesch for their tireless MAXQDA and Citavi advice. A big thank you to Olga Perov, Sonya Krasteva, and Sheline Lugonzo for their help in transcribing interviews. Pragmatic helpers in the later stages of the journey to publication, whom I would like to thank for their invaluable support in turning the manuscript into a “real” book, are Elke Flatau, Oli Lukner, and Matthew Harris. After I crossed the threshold into the adventurous world of field research in Geneva and Rome, many helpers and mentors provided further guidance. I wish to extend my deepest appreciation to all my interview partners and participants in conversations – without your willingness to answer (and challenge) my ques- tions, this research project would not have been possible, as its “zooming in” relies on insiders’ honest accounts. My thanks also go to my former FAO col- leagues and the FAO biotope for providing me with a formative time of growth, which (unknowingly at that time) laid the foundation for this research. I was also blessed to be “adopted” quickly by the untiringly active civil society community in Geneva around the OEIWG and at the CFS in Rome in 2016, which allowed me deep insights and left me in awe of the spirit, dedication, and perseverance of those defenders of human rights and our precious planet. I may be criticizing the entrenched silo culture in the organized world I study, but you – and many dedi- cated individuals within the UN agencies – truly are a beacon of hope for this world in these challenging times. Important academic mentors who helped me find the right direction were Priscilla Claeys, Adriana Bessa, Jessica Duncan, and Josh Brem-Wilson. Thank you for our conversations and your input. Karen Cadiero-Kaplan has been an indispensable support and overall (PhD) life coach – I am so grateful that our paths crossed. Tempting distraction came along in early 2017 during the writing process, when Olivier De Schutter and Benjamin Mason Meier took me on board Acknowledgements IX a magnificent book project on human rights mainstreaming in global health across UN agencies. It unfolded into an unparalleled learning opportunity. Temp- tation turning into inspiration could also be the theme for my participation in the MGG Academy 2017 at the German Development Institute. I benefitted im- mensely from the outside-the-box thinking about global governance challenges I encountered there. Which brings me to yet another inspirational helper, whose seminal book Reinventing Organizations never failed to provide excitement and hope on my commutes to the office: Frederic Laloux. Above all, I am indebted to my families for their unconditional support on this journey’s ups and downs – for which no words can express my appreciation. My “birth family”: My parents Sigi and Rüdiger, my late grandmother Herta and sister Christina for their love and for providing a home base I could always return to – you made all of this possible. My “soul family”: All the wonderful friends from near and far who provided emotional shelter, hot tea, and words of wisdom and truth when needed along my journey. Thank you for being you and being in my life (from A to V), Andi, Angie, Anna, Anne, Annika, Aviv, Benita, Benja- min, Carlotta, Charlotte, Clara, Connie, Gregor, Idil, Johanna, Magdalena, Max, Nina M., Nina R., Roya, Serena, Stefan, Thomas, Tina, Verena Sch., Verena S., and Veronica. My “San Diego soul family,” whose members have turned sunny SoCal into my second home over the past years: I am indebted to my teachers Laura and Bhava for calling me to a transformative Deep Yoga training, and to all the beautiful souls I have met ever since, among them inspiring mentors and dear friends Karen, Mary Katherine, Melissa, and Stephanie. I thank Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga for providing me with a grounding yoga home during the intense final months of dissertation writing and Deer Park Monastery for a happy and mindful safe haven. I am also profoundly grateful for the eucalyptus tree under which I met Jai, who has been my co-traveler with an extraordinary spirit and big heart. Dankeschön for our growing together. Pepe and Simba taught me vital lessons in (dog) happiness and unconditional love. I finally thank the Stevens family for inviting me into their homes with open arms and for always believing in me. I acknowledge that this book provides only a necessarily incomplete snap- shot in space and time of a highly complex issue that is constantly in flux, or to say it with the founding fathers of the grounded theory approach, “only a pause in the never-ending process of generating theory” (Glaser and Strauss 1967, 40). Nevertheless, I hope that the book proves valuable and provokes insights and inspiration for the interested reader. In the end, I am convinced that it is not the product or title – the “achievement” – that is the true gift to bring home from my personal “hero’s journey,” but all that I was blessed to learn along this path of constant challenge and growth. Onward. Table of Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Research question and focus of this study ........................................... 4 1.2 Key findings in a nutshell .................................................................... 6 1.3 The study’s cornerstones, key contributions, and added value ............ 8 1.3.1 Introducing the empirical case and empirical added value ....... 8 1.3.2 Making the case for theoretical added value........................... 14 1.3.3 Making the case for methodological added value ................... 16 1.3.4 Practical-political implications of the research ....................... 19 1.4 Chapter-by-chapter structure of this book.......................................... 21 2 The research methodology used .............................................................. 23 2.1 The grounded theory approach as a methodological compass ........... 23 2.1.1 Unique features of the applied grounded theory approach ..... 23 2.1.2 Abduction and prior theoretical knowledge ............................ 24 2.1.3 State of the art and literature review? ..................................... 25 2.1.4 Grounded theory – what kind of theory? ................................ 26 2.2 “Data gathering”: Field research in UN agencies and committees in Geneva (OHCHR, HRC) and Rome (FAO, CFS).......................... 28 2.2.1 Access and positionality ......................................................... 30 2.2.2 Gathering data: Interviews, conversations, observations, documents ............................................................................... 32 2.2.3 Multi-sited ethnography: “Hanging out in international politics”................................................................................... 34 2.3 “Data analysis”: Explanation of the empirically grounded analytical process ............................................................................... 36 2.3.1 How did the analysis proceed within the grounded theory framework? ............................................................................. 36 2.3.2 Interview transcripts and coding (open, focused, selective) ... 37 2.3.2.1 Open coding.............................................................. 38 2.3.2.2 Axial or focused coding? .......................................... 39 2.3.2.3 Selective coding, theory building, and theoretical saturation .................................................................. 40 2.3.3 Theoretical sampling in practice ............................................. 41 2.3.4 Memo writing and issues of (self-)reflexivity ........................ 42 2.3.5 Discourse analytical tools: “Undeceivable reflexivity” .......... 43 2.4 Synthesis and critical assessment ....................................................... 44
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