Reframing Analysis of Voluntourism in International Development

Global Studies Seminar Series 2012

The presentation will consider current representations of voluntourism in international development. In particular, an argument will be made that distinguishes between analyses that is restricted to the merits and legitimacy of voluntourism and those analyses that attempt to explain its presence in International Development in the first instance. Instead of considering the effectiveness or legitimacy of voluntourists as participants or practitioners in development settings, this reframing considers voluntourism as an inevitable phenomenon of consumerist societies which expect that anything can be bought and sold, including good intentions. Moreover, the paper will draw out the implications for development NGOs, training and education in international development as well as the role of enterprise and regulation.

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