This ethnographic study explores the postcolonial presence and shared history of the Dutch in Suriname. Suriname has been colonized by the Dutch for more than 300 years, after which it became independent 49 years ago. This study explores the many ways in which Suriname is still connected to the Netherlands. The research question addresses how Suriname’s postcolonial, transnational and neocolonial relations with the Netherlands are visible in everyday encounters with infrastructures in Suriname, and how these relations influence and get influenced by Dutch development work. Instead of entering the field with a set research question, the research question is the result of relying on local interlocutors' insights. Qualitative research, including fieldwork, participant observation and interviews, is performed to explore colonialism, postcolonialism, transnationalism and development work. The position of the researcher is reflected upon. This study illuminates the ongoing visibility of the Netherlands in Suriname in the infrastructure of the country, especially in the capital city Paramaribo. Different forms of international development work are found to often occur parallel to a problematised notion of help. This research contributes to the field of cultural anthropology by taking a critical stance towards ethnographic methods and showing the importance of contextualizing the field.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-530670 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Nijboer, Sterre |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för kulturantropologi och etnologi |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Masteruppsatser i kulturantropologi, 1653-2244 ; 121 |
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