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Semester 2

Contemporary Issues in International Development (AFRI10004)

Subject

African Studies

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed at least 4 Social Sciences courses (i.e. Sociology, Politics, Social Policy, Social Anthropology, African Studies, American Studies, Gender/Queer Studies) at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses.

Course Summary

Contemporary Issues in International Development takes a recent topic, one emerging in the news, policy debates or in the academic literature, and provides students with the tools to situate it within the larger academic literature, the political context and methods of analysis.

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity of strengthening their understanding of the multidisciplinary study of international development at honours level. The course will draw on multidisciplinary expertise within the Centre of African Studies on international development. The substantive content of the course will change each year depending on topical issues and will be taught by experts on the issue itself or on particular approaches/methods from amongst permanent and postdoctoral staff. For example, around a UN development agenda or a comparative perspective on an issue covering a particular set of countries or regions, or on a theme that has attracted activism. In each case, students will learn substantive information about the topic itself but perhaps more importantly they will acquire the generic skills to analyse any phenomenon: how to place it within a larger context, where to look for information about context, the types of variables (whether social, economic, cultural, or political) to consider when analysing the phenomenon, how to identify wider theories and concepts to analyse the phenomenon and how to acquire evidence that would support one theoretical interpretation over another. 2022-23 topic detail: Work, Employment and Development. Work is considered central to human development. One of the key goals of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda is decent work. Yet, working conditions around the world have deteriorated for a vast majority of the global workforce. As technology, climate, and socio-political factors influence working conditions and workers globally, there is a need to properly examine and understand the contemporary dynamics of change in the world of work. This course is intended to bring multi-disciplinary perspectives to the role of work within international development and enable students to develop unique insights into the multi-dimensional challenges faced by workers today. It blends geographical, sociological and technological insights to provide students a comprehensive outlook on work and development and its futures. In particular, the course will analyse aspects including globalisation of work, artificial intelligence and automation, climate change, informality, employment relations, and labour and social movements, with a focus on class, gender, and race.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 40%, Coursework 50%, Practical Exam 10%

view the timetable and further details for this course