Nathan Hedges


Nathan Hedges Entered 2008 nth5d@Virginia.EDU
Sociocultural Anthropology Regional focus: West Africa Topical Interests Development Aid, Race Studies, Globalization, Colonialism, Exchange Theory. Background and Current Research My research focuses on the subjective meanings attached to the contemporary development aid project among both development aid workers and local people in the Republic of Benin, West Africa. Of particular interest are the ways in which constructs of race intersect and inform these meanings, and how exchange theory might elucidate how these meanings are constructed. Does development aid represent a break from the colonial project, or has development aid prolonged colonialism in other ways? Does development aid mitigate local economic problems tied to the neoliberal world order, or does it exacerbate these problems?

Entered 2008
nth5d@Virginia.EDU

Sociocultural Anthropology

Regional focus: West Africa

Topical Interests

Development Aid, Race Studies, Globalization, Colonialism, Exchange Theory.

Background and Current Research

My research focuses on the subjective meanings attached to the contemporary development aid project among both development aid workers and local people in the Republic of Benin, West Africa. Of particular interest are the ways in which constructs of race intersect and inform these meanings, and how exchange theory might elucidate how these meanings are constructed. Does development aid represent a break from the colonial project, or has development aid prolonged colonialism in other ways? Does development aid mitigate local economic problems tied to the neoliberal world order, or does it exacerbate these problems?