ABSTRACT
Reflexivity requires recognising that what we consider ‘normal’ is shaped by power. Power is the socialisation process that shapes what one believes, says and does. This chapter suggests reflexive methods that practitioners in the field of international development cooperation can adopt to scrutinise their beliefs, words, actions and relationships, as shaped by power, and enquire whether and how these are supporting or undermining social justice. The author reflects on ethical dilemmas arising from her participation in an immersion visit to a West African village, capturing how power operates in fluid rather than fixed ways in aid relationships. When complex power dynamics are at work, it is easier to be reflexive about past action than to be reflexive in action; to name and deal with power in moments of crisis thus requires a continuous reflexive practice. Power becomes visible and possible to shift when a sufficient number of people start talking about it, recognising how it is constructed through social interaction, and changing their interaction in the moment rather than reflecting after the fact. Thus, we need to learn together with others to deal with power.
