Volunteering projects organised by commercial agencies are often criticised for being a modern form of neo-colonialism. In most cases, these agencies from industrialised countries enrich themselves at the expense of people in developing regions.
Just like mass tourism, voluntourism generates structures of dependency and vulnerability.
Many international volunteer companies market their programmes by polarising the relationship between volunteers and local communities:
volunteers are presented as active givers, while locals are portrayed as passive receivers.
This binary narrative reinforces neo-colonial stereotypes and patterns of thought — especially when unqualified volunteers are placed in roles they are not prepared for.
“[W]hen volunteer tourists inappropriately take on roles of ‘expert’ or ‘teacher’
regardless of their experience or qualifications, this can be seen to represent the
neo-colonial construction of the westerner as racially and culturally superior.”— Raymond & Hall (2008), The Development of Cross-Cultural (Mis)Understanding Through Volunteer Tourism,
Journal of Sustainable Tourism 16 (5): 531.
Commercial voluntourism has become detached from the original spirit of volunteering.
Today, many organisations focus mainly on stimulating their customers and fulfilling their personal wishes. This profit-driven model creates financial dependencies and deepens existential vulnerabilities within host communities.
“The potential for volunteer tourism as a new form of colonialism, creating yet
another layer of dependency between the developed and developing world, is also
a primary concern amongst researchers.”— Wearing & McGehee (2013), International Volunteer Tourism: Integrating Travellers and Communities,
CABI Publishing: 122.
Understanding this criticism helps to see volunteering in developing countries from another perspective.
Neo-colonial structures often perpetuate unequal power relations, cultural cannibalism and poverty aesthetics, all of which can contribute to new forms of inequality.
The danger is particularly high when young and inexperienced volunteers are unaware of the complex realities behind their projects. Many of them are more interested in enhancing their CVs or seeking adventurous experiences than in long-term impact. Some even welcome the imbalance — because feeling superior makes them feel successful.
Go back to the main page:
The Danger of Voluntourism
or check our List of Literature and Articles for more insights.