LE3 .A278 2020

2020

Brickner, Rachel

Acadia University

Master of Arts

Masters

Political Science

Politics

Colonial powers rationalized the expansion of their empires in part through the trope of “white saviourism”—the obligation of Europeans to civilize the “native savages” in newly discovered territories. This thesis offers an analysis into how the White Savior Complex is found in today’s contemporary moment. Using post-colonial theory and post-colonial feminist theory, I explore three different examples of encounters between “first world” and “third world” peoples: the period of colonial empire, models of international development in the post-WWII context, and the current voluntourism industry. I find that all offer unique opportunities for “first world” people to perform “white saviorism” and have a sense of the “heroic self.” I argue that the White Savior Complex is an example of a “colonial continuity” which has survived the demise of colonialism and is restated in contemporary international development theory and practice, and is a foundational principle/pillar/marketing strategy of the voluntourism industry.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3494