PIR-30147 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None.

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

The 'developing world' comprises those parts of the world that have experienced the most political, social, and economic upheaval, and which have faced the greatest challenges of the postcolonial world in the areas of poverty, displacement and diaspora, environmental degradation, human and civil rights abuses, war, hunger, and disease. Comprising the geographic regions of Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and even some within the United States and Mediterranean Europe, the study of these otherwise disparate and discontinuous geographic areas involves not only practical solutions to pervasive problems of inequality, but also the study of the language of subalterity and the role of agency in socio-political practices. Thus, the study of development covers not only dominant ideological interpretations and policy practices such as aid and economic restructuring, but also involves understanding the politics and political practices surrounding and underpinning those.
Students of this module will investigate the politics of development from political science, international relations (including political economy), development studies, and security perspectives. In particular, this module aims to communicate regional understandings of the less-affluent world, and to review and analyse the growing literature on justice, inequality, sovereignty, environment, development, and security in the developing world. The module demonstrates how to critically evaluate both theoretical and empirical writings which pertain to concepts of a developed-developing dichotomy, and investigates current literature on the central themes of critical geopolitics, and development theory and practice.
It also aims to cultivate the critical skills needed to analyse the impacts of political ideologies, dominant practices, and interconnectedness on majority worlds, enabling students to gain experience of individual research by gathering, organising, and deploying information (from primary and secondary sources), and by identifying, analysing and advocating potential solutions to problems. This will help students to improve their oral and written presentation skills, and to gain experience by both participating in and facilitating group discussion. Students will also learn to communicate about current debates and areas of new research in relation to major, contemporary issues pertaining to the politics of development.

a. To investigate the politics of development from international relations and political science perspectives;
b. To communicate regional understandings of the developing world;
c. To review and analyse the growing literature on justice, society, sovereignty, environment, politics, and security in the study and practice of development;
d. To critically evaluate both theoretical and empirical writings which pertain to concepts of a developed-developing divide;
e. To investigate current literature on the central dimensions of critical geo-politics;
f. To cultivate the critical skills needed to analyse the impacts of changing political ideologies and dominant practice on majority worlds;
g. To enable students to gain experience of individual research by gathering, organising, and deploying information (from primary and secondary sources), and by identifying, analysing, and advocating potential solutions to problems;
h. To enable students to improve their oral presentation skills and to gain experience of participating in and facilitating group discussion;
i. To communicate current debates and areas of new research in relation to major, contemporary issues pertaining to the politics and practice of development.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically evaluate past and current research looking at the social and political dimensions of key issues in the Third World and the practice of development, and provide an individual and original interpretation of that research: 1,2
persuasively communicate conclusions formed through research and critical analysis in both written and verbal form: 1,2
develop a research proposal culminating in the submission of a formal research plan: 1,2

Study hours

150 hours of student effort in total, as follows:
20 hours: contact time in 10 x 2 hour seminars
40 hours: seminar preparation
50 hours: written work (essay) preparation
40 hours: research plan and video blog presentation preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment