A Fraught Embrace: The Romance and Reality of AIDS Altruism in Africa (Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology Book 77)

The complex relationships between altruists, beneficiaries, and brokers in the global effort to fight AIDS in Africa In the wake of the AIDS pandemic, legions of organizations and compassionate individuals descended on Africa from faraway places to offer their help and save lives. A Fraught Embrace shows how the dreams of these altruists became entangled with complex institutional and human relationships. Ann Swidler and Susan Cotts Watkins vividly describe the often mismatched expectations and fantasies of those who seek to help, of the villagers who desperately seek help, and of the brokers on whom both Western altruists and impoverished villagers must rely. Based on years of fieldwork in the heavily AIDS-affected country of Malawi, this powerful book digs into the sprawling AIDS enterprise and unravels the paradoxes of AIDS policy and practice. All who want to do good--from idealistic volunteers to world-weary development professionals--depend on brokers as guides, fixers, and cultural translators. These irreplaceable but frequently unseen local middlemen are the human connection between altruists' dreams and the realities of global philanthropy. The mutual misunderstandings among donors, brokers, and villagers--each with their own desires and moral imaginations--create all the drama of a romance: longing, exhilaration, disappointment, heartache, and sometimes an enduring connection. Personal stories, public scandals, and intersecting, sometimes clashing fantasies bring the lofty intentions of AIDS altruism firmly down to earth. Swidler and Watkins ultimately argue that altruists could accomplish more good, not by seeking to transform African lives but by helping Africans achieve their own goals. A Fraught Embrace unveils the tangled relations of those involved in the collective struggle to contain an epidemic. In The Wake Of The Aids Pandemic, Legions Of Organizations And Compassionate Individuals Descended On Africa From Faraway Places To Offer Their Help And Save Lives. A Fraught Embrace Shows How The Dreams Of These Altruists Became Entangled With Complex Institutional And Human Relationships. Ann Swidler And Susan Cotts Watkins Vividly Describe The Often Mismatched Expectations And Fantasies Of Those Who Seek To Help, Of The Villagers Who Desperately Seek Help, And Of The Brokers On Whom Both Western Altruists And Impoverished Villagers Must Rely. Based On Years Of Fieldwork In The Heavily Aids-affected Country Of Malawi, This Powerful Book Digs Into The Sprawling Aids Enterprise And Unravels The Paradoxes Of Aids Policy And Practice. All Who Want To Do Good--from Idealistic Volunteers To World-weary Development Professionals--depend On Brokers As Guides, Fixers, And Cultural Translators. These Irreplaceable But Frequently Unseen Local Middlemen Are The Human Connection Between Altruists' Dreams And The Realities Of Global Philanthropy. The Mutual Misunderstandings Among Donors, Brokers, And Villagers--each With Their Own Desires And Moral Imaginations--create All The Drama Of A Romance: Longing, Exhilaration, Disappointment, Heartache, And Sometimes An Enduring Connection. Personal Stories, Public Scandals, And Intersecting, Sometimes Clashing Fantasies Bring The Lofty Intentions Of Aids Altruism Firmly Down To Earth. Swidler And Watkins Ultimately Argue That Altruists Could Accomplish More Good, Not By Seeking To Transform African Lives But By Helping Africans Achieve Their Own Goals. A Fraught Embrace Unveils The Tangled Relations Of Those Involved In The Collective Struggle To Contain An Epidemic. Introduction : Altruism From Afar -- Fevered Imaginations -- Lumbering Behemoths And Fluttering Butterflies : Altruists In The Global Aids Enterprise -- Cultural Production : A Riot Of Color -- Getting To Know Brokers -- Brokers' Careers : Merit, Miracles, And Malice -- Themes That Make Everyone Happy : Fighting Stigma And Helping Orphans -- Themes That Make Everyone Anxious : Vulnerable Women And Harmful Cultural Practices -- A Practice That Makes Everyone Happy : Training -- Creating Success -- Conclusions : Doing Good Better. Ann Swidler, Susan Cotts Watkins. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 219-267) And Index. In the wake of the AIDS pandemic, legions of organizations and compassionate individuals descended on Africa from faraway places to offer their help and save lives. This book shows how the dreams of these altruists became entangled with complex institutional and human relationships. The book describes the often mismatched expectations and fantasies of those who seek to help, of the villagers who desperately seek help, and of the brokers on whom both Western altruists and impoverished villagers must rely. Based on years of fieldwork in the heavily AIDS-affected country of Malawi, this book digs into the sprawling AIDS enterprise and unravels the paradoxes of AIDS policy and practice. All who want to do good—from idealistic volunteers to world-weary development professionals—depend on brokers as guides, fixers, and cultural translators. These irreplaceable but frequently unseen local middlemen are the human connection between altruists' dreams and the realities of global philanthropy. Personal stories, public scandals, and intersecting, sometimes clashing fantasies bring the lofty intentions of AIDS altruism firmly down to earth. The book ultimately argues that altruists could accomplish more good, not by seeking to transform African lives but by helping Africans achieve their own goals. It unveils the tangled relations of those involved in the collective struggle to contain an epidemic. "In May 2011, the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly endorsed the Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS, 2011-2015 (GHSS), which was developed through an extensive consultation process. The GHSS is aligned with the multisectoral strategy on HIV, Getting to Zero: UNAIDS Strategy 2011-2015, and guides the country and global health sector responses to HIV over the next five years, through four mutually supportive strategic directions. This HIV Operational Plan describes how WHO will implement the strategy in 2012/2013. It outlines WHO's priority work areas for 2012/2013, providing details of the normative guidance, policy advice, technical assistance and other products and services that will be implemented within each strategic direction across WHO's HIV programme within each of the three levels of the Organization (headquarters, regional offices and country offices), all of which are aimed at delivering robust, coordinated support for country HIV programmes."--Page 1 CONTENTS Preface CHAPTER 1. Introduction: Altruism from Afar CHAPTER 2. Fevered Imaginations CHAPTER 3. Lumbering Behemoths and Fluttering Butterflies: Altruists in the Global AIDS Enterprise CHAPTER 4. Cultural Production: A Riot of Color CHAPTER 5. Getting to Know Brokers CHAPTER 6. Brokers’ Careers: Merit, Miracles, and Malice CHAPTER 7. Themes That Make Everyone Happy: Fighting Stigma and Helping Orphans CHAPTER 8. Themes That Make Everyone Anxious: Vulnerable Women and Harmful Cultural Practices CHAPTER 9. A Practice That Makes Everyone Happy: Training CHAPTER 10. Creating Succes CHAPTER 11. Conclusions: Doing Good Better Acknowledgments Notes References Index