Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Learning To Fish Together: Imperialism And Hope In International Volunteer Service, Sadie De Luca

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

An anthropological look at (neo)imperial frameworks of international volunteering, and at new directions for cross-cultural understanding and justice. This paper seeks to investigate many questions. For instance, since the majority of international volunteer organizations appear to be based in previously-colonizing countries in the “Global North,” mainly with aims to provide humanitarian aid in previously-colonized countries in the “Global South,” how does that preexisting history and relationship impact “humanitarian actions,” in intent, practice, and consequences? Additionally, in acknowledging this history and potential relationship, is it possible for an international volunteer organization to exist outside of Empire, or are they inseparable? And …