Syllabus

PNS0216 Rural Development in the Global South, 7.5 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

This course gives a basic introduction to the subject rural development with a focus on the Global South. It covers the basics about the origins and evolution of development as a concept as well as its critiques, while also touching upon a variety of thematic areas central to contemporary debates in the field. The course is divided into three blocks (1) Rural development, post-colonialism, and beyond; (2) Rural transformations; (3) Politics of natural resources and the environment.

Theory and discussion is oriented toward critical approaches within development studies that seek to foster debate about the idea of ‘development’ and its many manifestations, dimensions of power and politics within development processes, and potential opportunities for cultivating more just, secure, and sustainable futures.

After completion of the course, the students shall be able to:

• describe historical trends in theory and practice of rural development in the Global South;

• engage with contemporary debates surrounding key development issues surrounding rural transformation and the politics of the environment;

• apply theory used within contemporary discussion on rural development to analyze and investigate issues within their own area of research.

Content

The course consists of three blocks where each takes place during one week with about five activities (e.g. lectures, seminars). The first block focuses on a history of ideas in our subject while the latter two expand into two key contemporary themes developed in the field.

1. Rural development, post-colonialism, and beyond

The first block will provide an introduction to the evolution of thinking in rural development from more "mainstream" approaches to critical development studies, post-colonial critiques, and beyond.

2. Rural transformations

The second block will explore key thematic issues relating to rural transformations including: dynamics of agrarian change in the contemporary era; changing relationships between state, society, and the market; shifts in rural livelihoods; and social vulnerability and resilience.

3. Politics of natural resources and the environment

The third block will examine issues relating environmental politics, including: natural resource governance and contestation, the politics of "participation", and continuity and change in global environmental agendas and their implications for welfare and justice of resource dependent populations.

Additional information

Responsible department

Department of Urban and Rural Development