Working on environmental projects in Cambodia : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of some Western expatriates : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand
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Date
2009
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Massey University
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Abstract
The experiences of western expatriates working in the environment sector in Cambodia were
explored in this study. Given that there is no indigenous environment movement outside of
NGOs, and the importance of NGO work to the post-conflict phase in Cambodia, how
expatriate environmentalists make sense of their experiences, and strategies they use for
success in their work pursuing environmental change is of interest. The process of overcoming
environmental degradation and experiences of working on environmental projects in a
crosscultural setting are of interest to health psychology. The chosen method, interpretative
phenomenological analysis, allows themes to emerge from the talk of participants, whose
sense-making is of interest. Four superordinate themes emerged from the transcripts of semistructured
interviews with 8 expatriates, who had lived in Cambodia from 2 to 11 years.
Themes included understandings about Cambodia’s environment, experiences of environment
work in Cambodia; politics in environment work and their experiences of being expatriate
environmentalists.
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Keywords
Health psychology, NGO workers