Beyond the Expat Bubble: Race, Power, and the "White Wave" in Global Aid with Junru Bian (Part 1)

In Part 1 of this Elders Podcast episode, Junru shares his transition from humanitarian practitioner to academic researcher studying the complex dynamics of race and gender in the aid sector.Junru challenges the traditional "expat vs. local" binary, revealing how aid workers are often judged by their "localness" regardless of their professional status. This conversation explores the concept of "race making" and the controversial "white wave" - a phenomenon where funding and Western professionals migrate to high-profile emergencies (like Ukraine and Gaza), leaving non-white professionals to lead programs as funding is cut. Finally, Junru discusses how exclusive elite spaces and social clubs in aid hubs like Dhaka systematically exclude local leaders from the informal networks where funding deals are made