Abstracts Astronomy & Space Science

The Peace Corps: An Altruistic or Imperialistic Enterprise

by Justin Phalichanh

The Peace Corps was established as an agency focused on world peace and friendship. The agency aimed to help interested countries fulfill their needs for trained men and women, to promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and to foster a better understanding of other cultures among Americans at home. The following thesis follows specific events that synchronized with the evolution of the agency and interprets research and data that was collected to determine whether or not the Peace Corps had any imperialistic motives in its underlying task at assisting developing countries in their socio-economic efforts. Using different examples to compare and contrast the implications of imperialism, the conclusion determined neither supports nor opposes the suggested idea that the agency is indeed imperialistic. The agency continues to operate as an organization focused on improving low-income and developing nations and their socioeconomic statuses.