Development Studies: Varieties of Development (2025/2026: periode 1)

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:

  1. critically evaluate the concept of development and different development paradigms, including critical perspectives to development from various standpoints: (e.g. post-development, feminist approaches, and decoloniality);
  2. recognise and analyse specific patterns and processes of development unfolding at varying geographical scales and in different spatial contexts;
  3. examine and compare interventions and strategies that are employed by different sets of agencies and actors, such as those by (inter)national, regional, and local institutions, as well as those by households and individuals themselves;
  4. demonstrate academic skills, such as writing a research paper; integrate different sources of information, alongside interacting and developing/improving communication skills.

Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
Grades will be composed as follows:

  • Documentary review: 10% (assesses learning objective 1, 3 and 4)
  • Written assignment: 20% (assesses learning objective 1)
  • Exam: 30% (assesses learning objectives 1 and 2)
  • Research paper: 30% (assesses learning objectives 2, 3 and 4)
  • Blog post: 10% (assesses learning objective 4)

Vakinhoudelijk

Development Studies: Varieties of Development
This course offers interpretations of current (and past) development processes and patterns, specifically in relation to Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Taking into account a range of overlapping dimensions (from social, economic, cultural, political to institutional), we explore the multifaceted and layered nature of development and its variegated impacts on the ground. Thus, the course adopts a geographical lens to unpack various economic and societal shifts taking place in developing and emerging countries. What are the main dimensions of development in the so-called global South? What are the primary drivers of change? What opportunities and barriers exist? What are the main strategies to induce development? What coping strategies are employed? These are some of the questions that are discussed. Central to this course is the critical reflection on, and recognition of the multiple meanings of, development and its manifold local expressions within an interconnected world.

Format
The course covers a period of 16 weeks. Students and lecturers meet twice a week for two-hour periods. Activities include presentations, literature study, debates, writing of scholarly paper, presentations, as well as a written examination. Each of the sessions is tied to a particular segment of the literature, usually in the form of one or more journal articles. Students prepare for the sessions by critically reading the literature and via note-taking. This forms part of class participation. In addition to core readings, students are encouraged to explore further sources. Suggestions for additional readings are offered for several of the sessions.
During the first part of the course, students are required to write a short essay. In addition, a written examination is scheduled towards the end of November. The last weeks of the course are reserved for the writing and subsequent presentation of individual research papers. These papers deal with a topic related to the central theme of the course and need to adopt a clear geographical perspective. The students must submit their proposal for approval. The paper proposal consists of a research question, sub questions, a provisional outline, and a provisional list of sources that are considered as relevant.

Course contact: dr. R. Dittgen, email: r.dittgen@uu.nl

Werkvormen

UCU SSC 2 course

Toetsing

Blog post

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Documentary review

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Written assignment

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Research paper

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Exam

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er moet voldaan zijn aan de cursus:

Voorkennis

Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Competenties

  • Academisch schrijven
  • Debatteren / discoursanalyse
  • Internationale en interculturele oriëntatie
  • Interdisciplinariteit
  • Kritisch lezen
  • Onderzoeksvaardigheden

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • DIVERSE
    Articles on Workspace

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

dr. R. Dittgen r.dittgen@uu.nl

Docenten

dr. R. Dittgen r.dittgen@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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