Community Service Learning in the Face of Globalization: Rethinking Theory and Practice

Globalization is a multifaceted phenomenon that does not yield easy definitions. The author examines three of its interconnected faces: neoliberalism, time-space compression, and globalism to trace their implications for two principles of service-learning practice: reciprocity and meeting community needs. The article reconceptualizes these two principles, concluding that interdependence is a better fit with the values and practices of the field than reciprocity; conceptions of community should emphasize difference and intersection of public and private spaces; and community needs should be defined to support citizenship action, public work, and social justice. (ginsberg.umich.edu/mjcsl/)