Development Themes

 

This course aims to establish a foundation for building knowledge in Development Studies by gaining insights in central themes in international sustainable development and interact with a wide range of development experts and students on these themes. The course builds on the idea that 'development' is essentially shaped by dynamic trans-local and global flows of capital and people, such as private investments, aid, goods, migration and displacement, and policies, technologies and ideas that come with them. The course starts from a human-centred approach and pays particular attention to power imbalances and inequality and global challenges such as geopolitical conflicts and climate change, whose effects unfold in various geographies due to the trans-local flows. During this course, you will be given the opportunity to think critically about central challenges of international development, using this trans-local perspective. The themes and development challenges discussed in detail in this course are: translocal experiences of global trade, urbanization, natural resource extractions, climate change and justice, planetary health, gender, migration and work. These themes will be introduced in introductory lecturers of IDS staff and panels with a variety of academic experts, development practitioners and other professionals in the field of development so that you can gain a practical understanding on what ‘development’ means and does in different local contexts.

You will be expected to choose a particular development theme to deepen your interests (and establish a solid ground for your future master research and your further professional career in international development). By doing so the course provides you with in-depth theoretical and empirical understanding of contemporary international development challenges and their implications for sustainable transitions, human welfare and social justice. Together with colleagues with similar interests, you will work on the chosen theme in collaborative manners so that you will also strengthen your teamwork skills.