ATS2628 - Power and poverty: International development in a globalised world - 2019

This unit focuses on the interrelated nature of power, poverty and development in the contemporary world. It provides students with the ability to critically examine geographical polarities of power and wealth generated by global processes of development for different groups of people in the world. Students engage with the main concepts, and definitions of international development.

The following questions are explored:

1. What are key disparities that pose serious concerns for global wellbeing?
2. How are international differences generated or reinforced by uneven global development?
3. How might we approach alternative strategies for tackling current patterns of global inequality?

Students successfully completing this unit will be able to:

1. identify and explain the key concepts of international development, with a focus on the existence of inequalities of wealth, poverty and power;
2. critically interpret competing theoretical explanations for global inequalities and disadvantage;
3. analyse and utilise text and other data to support research into inequalities of wealth, poverty and power;
4. critically assess institutional and other structures that exacerbate and reinforce uneven international development;
5. develop, justify and communicate strategies for the transformation of patterns of global inequality toward more socially just and sustainable outcomes.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Geographical science

Human geography

Human rights

International studies