Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis This subject explores changing definitions of the term `development', the competing theories which seek to explain differences between rich and poor countries, and how these contrasting approaches produce distinctive policy outcomes. The first part of the subject examines the various conflicting interpretations of development on a global scale with a specific focus on liberal and Marxist accounts of uneven development. The second part of the subject looks at the dominant agents shaping development policy at three distinct but linked geographical scales: the global, national and local. The focus here is on the role of global institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and United Nations based organisations and their influence on development policy. The dimensions of the global market are also covered, with emphasis placed on global production regimes and the international financial system as well as the role of government within the developing world in establishing national development policies. The focus on practice then shifts to a detailed analysis of rural development in the light of issues concerning ecologically sustainable development. Particular attention is given to the problems of resource management and the role of agriculture in developing countries. The concluding section examines various contemporary challenges to established ideas about development theory and practice. Regional examples are drawn mainly from Africa and Latin America.
Assessment Written (4500 words): 60% + Examinations (2 hours): 30% + Tutorial participation: 10%