Vietnam and Philanthropy: Social Movements, Economic Development and Ocean Issues. Teaching Case Study and Teaching Notes

Abstract

This teaching case study and teaching note are pedagogical tools to develop the skills of undergraduate students in analyzing a philanthropic landscape. The case is based on the decision dilemma of a philanthropic actor in the face of a 2016 fish kill event that impacted the ocean environment and the livelihoods of communities in central Vietnam. The event sparked environmental protests and multiple responses to a general government crack down on civil society. Students are asked to position themselves on the decision dilemma and discover the complexity and challenges of a philanthropic actor’s activity. The text contains information about the political, economic, social and cultural environment in Vietnam and the development, manifestation and common approaches to philanthropic activity (giving, associating and volunteering). The teaching note provides suggestions on teaching delivery, discussion scenarios and reading material on civil society, philanthropic actors’ responses to the shrinking space of civil society, multi-disciplinary approaches to volunteering, cultural influences on philanthropic behavior and environmental movements.