Voluntourism in the Dominican Republic
Author
Christensen, Mette Helene
Term
4. term
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-05-31
Pages
58
Abstract
This thesis examines volunteer tourism in the Dominican Republic, focusing on how volunteers and host organizations perceive their roles and positions within local contexts, and how such encounters can inform theorizing in the field. It situates the study within wider debates that both praise voluntourism’s intentions to ‘make a difference’ and criticize its potential to reproduce dependency, stereotypes, and unequal power relations. Empirical data were collected during two field visits in and around Puerto Plata through qualitative interviews with international volunteers, volunteer coordinators, and a founder across three different organizations. The material is discussed in relation to established literature and the concepts of power relations, neocolonialism, and cultural imperialism. Findings indicate departures from established theories, particularly regarding motivations, and underscore the need to systematically include host communities’ expectations, experiences, and perspectives. The thesis concludes that multiple factors shape how actors understand their roles; that the most beneficial outcomes arise when mutual benefits are prioritized over unequal power structures; and that reflexive awareness of one’s position and purpose can help avoid condescending discourses. Neocolonialism and cultural imperialism are highlighted as key analytical lenses for research on voluntourism.
Denne afhandling undersøger frivilligturisme i Den Dominikanske Republik med fokus på, hvordan frivillige og værtsorganisationer opfatter deres roller og positioner i lokale kontekster, og hvordan sådanne møder kan informere teoridannelse på området. Udgangspunktet er den bredere debat, hvor frivilligturisme både roses for sine idealer om at ‘gøre en forskel’ og kritiseres for at kunne reproducere afhængighed, stereotyper og ulig magt. Empirien stammer fra to feltbesøg i og omkring Puerto Plata og omfatter kvalitative interviews med internationale frivillige, frivilligkoordinatorer og en grundlægger fra tre forskellige organisationer. Materialet analyseres i lyset af eksisterende litteratur og begreber om magtrelationer, neokolonialisme og kulturimperialisme. Resultaterne indikerer afvigelser fra gængse teorier, blandt andet i forhold til motivationer, og peger på behovet for at inddrage værtsfællesskabers forventninger, oplevelser og perspektiver mere systematisk. Afhandlingen konkluderer, at flere faktorer former, hvordan aktørerne forstår deres roller; at de mest fordelagtige forløb opstår, når gensidig nytte prioriteres frem for ulige magtstrukturer; og at bevidsthed om egen position og formål kan modvirke nedladende diskurser. Neokolonialisme og kulturimperialisme fremhæves som centrale analytiske linser i studiet af frivilligturisme.
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