The purpose of this course is to interrogate theories of development through a close reading of scholarly texts and discussion in class. The aim is to critically examine the major theoretical foundations in development studies from a contemporary perspective. The course starts with historical trajectories of development, beginning with colonisation and the central place given to economic growth by classical thinkers and in early development interventions. It turns a corner with the examination of Amartya Sen’s work in his seminal book Development as Freedom, and then focuses on contemporary theories of development, including theories of justice, access, participation, governmentality and post-development. The course concludes with reflections on development alternatives, including Indigenous worldviews and endogenous development approaches.
Course outcomes
By the end of this semester, students should know:
- The main theories of development
- Their critical evaluation from a contemporary perspective
- The importance of history, power and culture in development practices
By the end of this semester, students should be able to:
- Articulate the main theories of development in a critical manner
- Research and write a critical research essay by applying the class learnings to a particular country case study
- Be able to condense readings from a book into a critical book review