What Makes an Ideal Partner? African Libraries and Neoliberal Discourses in International Development

Autor/inn/en	Lynch, Renee; Young, Jason C; Jowaisas, Chris; Boakye-Achampong, Stanley; Sam, Joel
Titel	What Makes an Ideal Partner? African Libraries and Neoliberal Discourses in International Development
Quelle	In: Applied Linguistics, 43 (2022) 5, S.958-977 (20 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Boakye-Achampong, Stanley)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0142-6001
DOI	10.1093/applin/amac014
Schlagwörter	Neoliberalism; Power Structure; Economic Development; Case Studies; Public Libraries; Discourse Analysis; Language Usage; Competition; Colonialism; Developing Nations; Developed Nations; International Cooperation; Foreign Countries; Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Neo-liberalism; Neoliberalismus; Wirtschaftsentwicklung; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Public library; Stadtbücherei; Öffentliche Bibliothek; Diskursanalyse; Sprachgebrauch; Wettkampf; Kolonialismus; Developing country; Developing countries; Entwicklungsland; Developed countries; Industriestaat; Industrieland; Internationale Kooperation; Internationale Zusammenarbeit; Ausland; Afrika
Abstract	This study investigates 'partnership' as a key discursive tool for extending neoliberalism in the field of international development. As a case study, it examines the language-in-use among development organizations when discussing public libraries as potential partners in Africa. Critical discourse analysis of 20 interviews with development practitioners via Fairclough's three-part framework and keyword analysis illuminates how libraries are discursively constructed as partners. Findings reveal discourses centered around competition, visibility, and growth which uphold market logic and responsibilize potential partners, reproducing colonial power imbalances between Global North and South. As other institutions such as universities and NGOs grapple with similar dynamics, we must be attendant to the power asymmetries that are obscured by discourses of partnership in order to navigate the tension between increasing access to funding and advancing economic justice. We suggest measures for organizations to resist neoliberalism through self-conscious effort and investment toward more equitable partnerships. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01