Universität Wien

240088 KU GM3 - Development Theories and Paradigms from a Transdisciplinary Perspective (2022S)

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 35 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Please note: the first session on 3 March will take place online via zoom. Zoom link can be found on moodle one day before the session. The remaining sessions of the course will take place in classroom.

  • Thursday 03.03. 15:00 - 18:15 Digital
  • Thursday 17.03. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 31.03. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 28.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 12.05. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 02.06. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Thursday 23.06. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course focuses on core developmental theories and paradigms, ideologies, critiques and (global) institutions that have influenced development thinking and practice since the 20th century. In doing so, students critically examine theoretical approaches and concepts, including modernization theory, political economic approaches, world systems analysis, neoliberalism, Eurocentrism, feminist perspectives, post-development, postcolonial/decolonial and other alternative approaches from the global South. We will assess how these paradigms and ideologies have shaped international development policies and the incorporation of the global South into the world economy, including the politics of growth and aid.
The seminar aims to provide students with skills and knowledge to critically reflect on the meanings and goals of paradigms and theories of development. In thematic working groups, students will use these skills to independently explore current topics within international development, such as the climate and food crises, poverty and social inequality, resource boom and extractivism, migration and the precarisation of labour.

Course Aims:
• to develop a historical, transdisciplinary understanding of development thinking
• to review the role of political economy, postcolonialism and feminism as cornerstone disciplines of development studies
• to gain an overview of different paradigms, theories and concepts of international development
• to get to know key thinkers and critics of development theory and thinking
• to contextualise theoretical concepts and approaches within thematical case studies

Assessment and permitted materials

Constant and active participation
Participation in working group
Summary of one of the basic texts
Final seminar paper, 5.000-6.000 words, deadline: 30 August 2022

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Assessment
Constant and active participation
Reading of basic texts, participation in group work and plenary discussion
Writing a summary of one of the basic readings
Participation in a thematic working group and in the presentation of final outcomes
Writing a final seminar paper, 5.000-6.000 words, deadline: 30 August 2022

Examination topics

Reading list

Amin, S. (2011): Global History: a view from the south. Bangalore, Cape Town, Dakar: Pambazuka and CODESRIA.

Harcourt, Wendy (ed.) (2016): The Palgrave Handbook of Gender and Development. Houndsmill: Palgrave Macmillan.

Peet, Richard; Hartwick, Elaine (2015): Theories of Development. Contentions, Arguments, Alternatives. New York, London: The Guilford Press.

Bayliss, K., Van Waeyenberg, E. and Fine, B. 2011. The Political Economy of Development: the World Bank, neoliberalism and development research. London: Pluto.

Association in the course directory

GM3

Last modified: Th 11.05.2023 11:28