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Theories of International Development

Module description

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the main theories of international development. It situates these theories in their historical context, looking at the core debates that have emerged around development from the early 20th century through to the current period. You will gain an understanding of how development theory is situated in broader social science debates. Some of the main topics examined include: poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment; the role of institutions and power in shaping development processes; gender; aid and structural adjustment; migration and displacement; the impact of environment and climate change; race; and violence and conflict.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims:

• To provide a thorough and interdisciplinary analytical understanding of theories of development.
• To encourage the development of specialised knowledge of particular case studies, as well as overall trends
• To provide skills enabling students to think in policy relevant terms

To provide analytical skills and understanding of practical methodologies enabling students to proceed to professional employment and/or PhD research

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main theories of development, their historical origins, and their place within wider social science debates.
• 2. Show knowledge of the main policy issues of international development and link these to a broader understanding of the theories of development.
• 3. Demonstrate knowledge around data collection, evidence, and different research methodologies, including case studies, quantitative analysis, surveys, etc.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrate an understanding of key development theories, debates and approaches, and critically evaluate each.
• 5. Show an understanding of the diversity of economic and political structures in developing countries
• 6. Demonstrate an ability to think in inter-disciplinary ways, drawing insights and evidence from a variety of perspectives

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Communicate effectively in writing; retrieve, evaluate and select information from a variety of sources; engage critically with ideas introduced during lectures and seminars.
• 8. Develop autonomous learning skills, notably self-direction and time management
• 9. Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and areas for improvement.

Syllabus plan

While the module content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the module will cover a selection of the following themes:

• What is Development? How is it Understood?
• Modernisation Theory and Decolonisation
• Dependency Theory, World Systems Analysis and the Developmental State
• Neoliberal Models of Development and their Critiques
• Post-modernism and ‘Alternative’ Development
• Poverty, Inequality and Underdevelopment
• Race and Gender in Development
• Conflict, Migration, and Displacement
• Climate Change and Ecology in Development

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Bacon, D. (2011). Illegal People: How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants. (Boston: Beacon Press)
• Bernstein, Henry (1971): Modernization Theory and the Sociological Study of Development, Journal of Development Studies, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 141-160.
• Chang, H.J. 2003. ‘The market, the state and institutions in economic development’ Chang, H.J. 2003. ‘The market, the state and institutions in economic development’, in Rethinking Development Economics, HJ Chang (ed.), Anthem Press, pp. 41-60.
• Escobar, A. (1995). Encountering Development. The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Fine Ben and Alfredo Saad-Filho (2015) ‘Thirteen Things You Need To Know About Neoliberalism’ in Critical Sociology
• Gunder Frank, A. (1966). “The Development of Underdevelopment.” Monthly Review, 18(4): 17–31.
• Kvangraven, I.H. (2020). Beyond the Stereotype: Restating the Relevance of the Dependency Research Programme. Development and Change. DOI: 10.1111/dech.12593.
• Kothari, U. (2005). “A Radical History of Development Studies: Individuals, Institutions and Ideologies,” in Kothari, U. (ed.), A Radical History of Development Studies: Individuals, Institutions and Ideologies, pp.1–13. London: Zed Books.
• Levitt, K.P. (2021) “Unravelling the Canvas of History” in the Essential Guide to Critical Development Studies, (Eds). Henry Veltmeyer and Paul Bowles, pp. 14-20.
• Matthews, S. (2004) ‘Post-development theory and the question of alternatives: a view from Africa,’ Third World Quarterly, 25(2): 373-384.
• Pieterse, J.N. (2000). “After Post-development.” Third World Quarterly, 21(2): 175–191.
• Rostow, W.W. (1959), “The Stages of Economic Growth”, The Economic History Review, 12(1): 1- 16.
• Scholten, Daniel and Rick Bosman, (2016), “The Geopolitics of Renewables; Exploring the Political Implications of Renewable Energy Systems”, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 103: 273–283.
• Selwyn B. (2019) ‘Poverty chains and global capitalism’. Competition & Change 23(1): 71–97.
• Sen, Amartya (1999) Development as Freedom. Oxford University Press.
• Soederberg, Susanne (2005). “The Transnational Debt Architecture and Emerging Markets: The Politics of Paradoxes and Punishment”, Third World Quarterly, 26, 6: 927-49.
• Wilson, K. (2012). Race, Racism and Development: Interrogating History, Discourse and Practice. London: Zed Books.
• Woo-cumings, M. (ed.) 1999. The Developmental State. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
• World Development Report (1997) The state in a changing world. Washington: The World Bank.

Key words search

International Development, Institutions, Gender