This multidisciplinary research group consists of researchers from the Faculty of Psychology engaged in development-related cultural and cross-cultural research. Networking within and across faculties and universities enriches the group’s research.

From the perspectives of various disciplines and thematic interests, group members are all concerned with challenges related to knowledge exchange processes and discourses across cultural borders in the contemporary world.

Although the research topics in the group’s ongoing projects are varied, they are interrelated and benefit and reinforce each other. The interaction between local cultures and various economic, cultural and ideological flows on a global level are at the core of the group’s research interests.

The research activities centre on gendered and generational aspects of global poverty, marginalisation and social exclusion, as well as the impact of Western hegemony in knowledge production, health and education.

International responses to these issues are largely driven by the presence and activities of humanitarian and development aid actors. Although the work of these agents leads to multi-cultural exchange, their activities are currently underpinned by narrowly focused top-down rights-based approaches.

In contrast to many mainstream interventions the group’s research foci are concerned with the need for sensitivity to the local context as a basis for generating supportive activities while paying attention to the impact of global discourses and political processes.

The role and efficacy of local cultural strategies and grassroots mobilisation are investigated as significant in processes of change in multi-cultural venues.