Center and Periphery in Service-Learning and Community Engagement: A Postcolonial Approach

Power dynamics are intimately connected to the success of any relationship and are especially critical in developing and sustaining reciprocal engaged partnerships, the foundation for service learning and community engagement. This work explores the theoretical and applied understandings of postcolonial theory and the related constructs of center and periphery as they provide insight into the study of power dynamics in community engagement settings and recognizes the implications of this perspective. Suggestions are offered for improving reciprocity in university-community engagement by viewing research design through a postcolonial lens.