Distance and Displacement in Consular Emergencies: Assisting National Citizens in Distress Abroad

Abstract

When a large number of tourists or travellers are affected by a disaster while abroad, there is pressure on governments to respond and provide consular assistance to their citizens - to engage in 'remote crisis management'. However, the foreign ministry response is both facilitated and further complicated by the international nature of the response. This article seeks to examine the challenges of consular emergency management by exploring two manifestations of 'remote' in remote crisis management. Using case studies of three foreign ministries' responses to three large-scale consular emergencies this article examines the logistical and practical issues of access, infrastructure, and resources; and the psychological and cognitive nature of connectedness and remoteness. This article argues firstly, because the consular emergency is viewed as a national or 'domestic' emergency (between a government and its citizens), this produces a state-focused response, thereby missing opportunities presented by the international context of the operation. Secondly, it argues that the psychological and cognitive manifestations of distance further discourage internationalisation of consular emergency responses.