Prof James Putzel CON.8.03 and Dr Rajesh Venugopal CON.8.09

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Development Studies. This course is available on the MSc in African Development, MSc in Anthropology and Development, MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation, MSc in Environment and Development, MSc in Health and International Development, MSc in Political Economy of Late Development, MSc in Population and Development and MSc in Urbanisation and Development. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course integrates the concepts and perspectives of a range of disciplines to consider: major trends of development and change in modern history and interpretations of them in the social sciences and contemporary economic and social theory and their bearing on the policy and practice of development.  During Michaelmas Term the course critically discusses concepts of 'development' and the historical evolution of paradigms of development thinking and policy. Through an examination of comparative historical experience, we explore the role of states and markets in development and/underdevelopment, colonial legacies and path dependencies and the political economy of growth, poverty and freedom. We examine how differential experiences of financial crisis, state fragility, democratic and populist politics affect development thinking and possibilities. During Lent Term the course draws on recent research and policy documents to discuss current cutting edge policy issues and challenges in the developing world including: demographic change and its implications, poverty and inequality ; industrialisation, international trade and industrial policy; agriculture, new technologies and agrarian reform policies; gendered development and responses; the impact of violent conflict; environmental threats and sustainability; and the evolution of development practice and aid.

20 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 20 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.

In addition, there will be a three hour revision session in late LT.

One 2,000 word essay with written feedback submitted in Michaelmas Term and at least two seminar presentations on literature (one in Michaelmas and one in Lent).

The following are recommended basic readings for the course:

A. Kohli, State-Directed Development: Political Power and Industrialization in the Global Periphery (Cambridge, 2004).

A Sen, Development as Freedom (Anchor, 1999).

HJ Chang, Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective (Anthem, 2002).

HJ Chang, Economics: The User's Guide (Penguin, 2014)

D Rodrik, One Economics, Many Recipes: Globalization, Institutions, and Economic Growth (Princeton University Press, 2008)

J.Ferguson, The Anti-Politics Machine: 'Development', Depoliticisation and Bureaucratic Power in Lesotho (Cambridge, 1990).

M. Jerven, Poor Numbers: How we are misled about African development statistics and what to do about it (Cornell, 2013).

United Nations, “Transforming Our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (SDGs)  A/RES/70/1   (25 September 2015).

World Bank, World Development Report 2017: Law and Governance (World Bank, 2017)

Exam (80%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (20%, 2000 words) in the LT.

DV400 is the core course for a number of MSc programmes and thus brings together students from a wider variety of backgrounds than most other Masters courses. As a very demanding full-year interdisciplinary course, which many students find particularly challenging, we believe student performance is impressive. We update and revise the reading list each year to ensure students have a strong foundation for future employment or research in development. Clearly students always demand more feedback on their work and we are working hard to ensure that happens.