SOC777 Dialectics of Underdevelopment

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 15 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Alice Navrátilová (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Timetable
Mon 18:00–19:30 U34
Prerequisites
English language written and spoken
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Dialectics of Underdevelopment offers insights, basic analytical tools and concepts of the challenging field Development studies. The course offers multidisciplinary approach to problems of development; the entity in question being geographically and politically labelled as 'Third World' or the South. The emphasis is laid on the critical understanding and readings of development as economic, political and cultural practices of late modernity. The course offers overview of the basic approaches to development that have evolved during the last half a century but tackles also sector problems such as access to health care and education or poverty alleviation and inequality reduction. It offers basic economic concepts influential within the field of Development studies as well as cultural critique of development from the perspective of post-colonial studies, sub-altern studies and gender perspective among others. The basic practice of development – development assistance as implemented via the project cycle management is critically looked into and alternative method of modelling generated within the complex system theory paradigm are critically dealt with.
Syllabus
  • At the end of the course students should acquire deepened understanding of basic paradigms within development studies understand and explain contemporary debates and controversies of development studies, be able criticize economic reductionism of some development theories, work with information on global inequalities, sector analysis, form an assessment of development project and make reasoned decisions about policy issues of development efforts
Literature
  • GEORGE, Susan. Another world is possible if--. London: Verso, 2004, xiii, 268. ISBN 1844675106. info
  • Another world is possible : popular alternatives to globalization at the World Social Forum. Edited by William F. Fisher - Thomas Ponniah. London ;: Zed Books, 2003, xix, 364. ISBN 1842773291. info
  • NEDERVEEN PIETERSE, Jan. Development theory : deconstructions/reconstructions. London: SAGE Publications, 2001, xii, 195. ISBN 0761952934. info
  • Discourses of development : anthropological perspectives. Edited by R. D. Grillo - R. L. Stirrat. Oxford: Berg, 1997, ix, 299. ISBN 1859739458. info
  • BROHMAN, John. Popular development :rethinking the theory and practice of development. 1st pub. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1996, 398 s. ISBN 1-55786-316-4. info
  • PIETERSE, Jan Nederveen. White on black :images of Africa and blacks in western popular culture. 1st pub. New Haven: Yale university press, 1992, 259 s. ISBN 0-300-06311-3. info
Assessment methods
active participation in class discussion, rotating presentation of the assigned readings during classes, mid-term exam presentation of the final paper on the approved topic, written exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2009/SOC777