Power in floating spaces and closed spaces: lessons from a Chinese volunteer tourism organization’s practice in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study delves into the operations of a Chinese volunteer tourism organization in Mathare, Kenya, a south-south context that has not been commonly explored in development practice. The first-hand data were collected during two fieldwork trips in 2018 and 2019, employing qualitative research methods such as participant observations and in-depth interviews. By adapting the ‘powercube’ theoretical framework, the research uncovers the presence of control and manipulation beneath the outward claims of empowerment made by the organization. The analysis reveals that the lack of organizational formality, with power being floated in many situations, has paved the way for both deliberate and unintentional forms of dominance in the realm of voluntary work. As a result, conflicts and disparities have arisen within the community. Recognizing it as a mode of development practice helps us to see new ways that power is articulated and shapes development interventions in African communities.