Justine Bruder
Decolonising the politics of child protection: A Sierra Leone Case Study
Biography
My previous studies have been in the field of economics and international relations. I first completed a bachelor in economics at Aix-Marseille University, which included a year at Durham University as part of the Erasmus program. I continued my studies with a masters in international relations and security at the University of Liverpool. My master’s dissertation dealt with the rise of populism in the European Union member states, more specifically with its impact of the conduction of negotiations amongst said states.
Research Interests
My research focuses on the neo-colonial aspect of child protection policies, especially when those are implemented within the framework of the international development agenda. The influence of colonial legacy will be illustrated by exploring the phenomenon of child fostering in Sierra Leone (also referred to as men pikin). In spite of the existence of a rich tradition of literature documenting the historical and cultural roots of child fostering in West Africa, this practice has often been reduced to a form of child trafficking resulting from the actions of poor and irresponsible parents. My research will argue that these reductive discourses stem from a belief in the superiority of Western models of childhood. On the basis of this argument, it will also attempt to demonstrate that the promotion of a Western ideal of childhood is not always compatible with the objective of protecting children from exploitation.