CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURGLOBAL OD PRACTICEThe Legacy of Colonialism and Oppression

Anne H. Litwin

For organization development (OD) professionals who work abroad, understanding the legacy of oppression at the national and regional levels of countries where we work is complex and essential, especially for those who are U.S.-based and U.S.-trained. Our training typically does not prepare us to recognize or manage the challenges to our effectiveness that can arise from that legacy. This chapter will explore the lingering impact on national cultures of two types of oppression that have implications for global OD practitioners: colonialism and brutal dictatorships. Colonialism is defined as “the ruthless spread of a system of domination by which white ...

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