Colonial Governmentality and Missionary Practices of Child Upbringing in Suriname, 1830-1930

This PhD project investigates policies and practices of child upbringing by missionary organisations in 19th and early 20th century colonial Suriname. As Suriname was transitioning from slavery to post-slavery colonialism, children were seen as the key to transforming and ‘civilising’ colonial subjects by colonial authorities as well as missionaries. How were missionary practices of child upbringing entangled with colonial governance? How did the affected children, their families and communities interact with and influence these missionary practices? By answering these questions the project aims to understand how the lives of children were shaped by the combined efforts of colonial administrators, missionaries, the families and communities of children, and children themselves.