Symbolic gestures: the development terrain of post-tsunami villages in (southern) Sri Lanka
Hollenbach, Pia and Ruwanpura, Kanchana N. (2011) Symbolic gestures: the development terrain of post-tsunami villages in (southern) Sri Lanka. Journal of Development Studies, 47, (9), 1299-1314. (doi:10.1080/00220388.2010.527950).
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Description/Abstract
This article analyses how rituals and ceremonies were deployed in the post-tsunami rehabilitation process in Sri Lanka to ‘incorporate’ development projects into the habitus and social reality of local communities. It argues that even though the aid delivery process is represented as a gift, in reality it is more concerned with strengthening the social capital of the local and foreign donors. Through this process there is an expectation and an implicit demand for acquiescence from the beneficiaries, which leaves them with a social debt. This, in turn, compels them to participate in the game of development rituals and ceremonies, in order to express their (ambivalent) gratitude and thankfulness. Through two case studies, we explore how the good intentions of donors to provide aid and alleviate suffering and the acceptance of this aid by the local communities, results in an asymmetric relationship where both become accomplices of
Bourdieuian notions of subtle and gentle violence.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| ISSNs: | 0022-0388 (print) 1743-9140 (electronic) |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GT Manners and customs H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races J Political Science > JZ International relations |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Social and Human Sciences > Geography and Environment > Economy, Society & Space |
| Item ID: | 200477 |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Oct 2011 13:54 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Dec 2011 02:01 |
| Contributors: | Hollenbach, Pia (Author) Ruwanpura, Kanchana N. (Author) |
| Funder: | British Academy and British Association for South Asian Studies |
| Date: | 2011 |
| Status: | Published |
| URI: | http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/200477 |
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