Learning About Globalization and World Society: North-South Youth Encounters as a Learning Opportunity?

• In Event: Poster Session 19
  In Poster Session: Equity, Stereotypes, and Acculturation

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to reconstruct the orientations towards globalization and world society of youths from Germany, Bolivia, and Rwanda who have participated in a North-South student exchange or youth encounter. The data was drawn from group discussions and interpreted with the Documentary Method. The study reveals that the participants’ orientations depend on their organizational rather than geographical background. North-South encounters could support competences for dealing with globalization but student exchanges are more likely than other types of youth encounters to (re-)establish stereotypes and paternalism. Findings also show that orientations towards world society are closely linked to global inclusion and exclusion mechanisms.

Authors

• Susanne Krogull, Otto-Friedrich-Universitat Bamberg

• Annette Scheunpflug, University of Erlangen - Nuremberg