Critical Development Perspectives (edX)

In this development studies course, you will engage with contemporary debates and gain new perspectives on what it means to be a leader in development. By gaining a good understanding of the different challenges facing development workers across the globe, you will be able to lead more effectively across sectors and organizations.

The course focuses each module around key readings that argue a particular perspective or idea. Interviews with the author, alongside other academics and practitioners, complement these readings and encourage new ways of thinking about the challenges facing workers in this space. Learners are encouraged to reflect on their own ideas and practice, and share their perspectives with other learners and the course team.
This course is part of the Leadership in Global Development MicroMasters Program.

What you'll learn

• Skills to critically review and apply development literature to local contexts and problems
• To recognise the current understandings and practice in key areas of global development
• To identify current controversies and challenges in global development
• To appreciate how evidence is used for decision-making or priority-setting in global development

Syllabus

Module 1: Sustainable development
The term 'sustainable development' is now ubiquitous in development and wider political spheres. However, what this term actually means and the path to achieving ecological sustainability remains contested.

Module 2: South-South development cooperation
Development aid, as traditionally understood, was provided by the wealthy countries of the global North to countries of the global South. These aid transfers often had certain conditionalities attached and were underpinned by particular political agendas. The aid landscape is, however, changing.

Module 3: Gender, faith and development
What is the role of faith and religion in development? Can faith and religion provide a platform for progressive social and political change, particularly with regard to gender?

Module 4: The military in development
What role can, and should, the military play in development? Can it play a complementary role or do the differences in mandate mean that they are incompatible?

Module 5: Elites in development
The role that elites can and should play in development is contested.

Module 6: Downward accountability in governance
Achieving downward social accountability is an important part of building sustainable institutions. How can downward social accountability be created?

Module 7: Input subsidies for food security
Ensuring that there is sufficient food for nourishment of Earth's growing population is a key concern for development.

Module 8: Microfinance
Microfinance, popularised by Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, was at one time
considered to be a highly effective approach to poverty alleviation. However, since then impact evaluations of micro-finance programs have produced mixed conclusions about what micro-finance can achieve. This module investigates the merits of micro-finance and asks 'what can micro-finance programs actually achieve'?

Module 9: Impact measurement for development
Accurately measuring the impact of development programs is vital for ensuring that the programs are actually working to improve the lives of people on the ground. So how do we measure the impact of development programs?

Module 10: Indigenous people 's inequality and disadvantage
What are some of the ways researchers and advocates analyse Indigenous people's disadvantage and inequality? Is disadvantage and inequality historically entrenched? How does the way that''agency' is conceptualised impact on understandings of Indigenous peoples' disadvantage and inequality?