Author Archives: Joël Glasman

About Joël Glasman

Joël Glasman is professor of African history at University of Bayreuth, Germany. His domains of interest include the history of the state in West and Central Africa and the history of humanitarian aid. His articles have been published in the Journal of Refugee Studies, the Journal of African History, and Politique Africaine. He is currently working on a book titled "The Invention of Basic Needs,'' which explores the history of humanitarian expertise in Central Africa from the 1960s until today.

Measuring Malnutrition: The History of the MUAC Tape and the Commensurability of Human Needs

March 20, 2018 by
No comments
Abstract: The bracelet for assessing acute malnutrition (MUAC Strip) has become the signature tool of humanitarian aid: it is widely used for screening children into feeding programs, for producing statistics on nutritional status and for mapping emergencies. This article takes this tool as an entry point into the history of humanitarian expertise, following the medical doctors who invented the strip from the 1960s until today. Humanitarian organizations often argue that they address needs all over the world because human needs are universal per se. However, Continue reading → Continue reading →