Development and Globalization: Anthropological Perspectives

Course

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/S_DG

Course Objective

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the interrelated themes of development and globalization and to help them gain insights into the issues of poverty, global inequality, governance and development from an anthropological perspective. The course has the following learning goals. The student has acquired knowledge and understanding of:development and globalization-related processes and their effects on power relations on the global, regional, national and local level.development and globalization-related processes and their effects on environment and natural resources, political relations and governance processes.anthropological analyses of development and globalization-related phenomena.different theoretical views on development as well as “development in practice” on an introductory level.The student has acquired the competences tounderstand and reproduce knowledge related to the historical, sociocultural and political dimensions of international development and globalization and their role in shaping the contemporary world.The student demonstratesa critical attitude towards the theory and practice of globalization and development.the ability to reflect on issues of global social and cultural inequality.The student has acquired the skills toreproduce in written text knowledge of processes and phenomena related to globalization and development.

Course Content

This course takes an anthropological perspective to analyse the interrelated themes of development and globalization. The historical development of capitalist economies in the “Global North” and the ongoing global restructuring of these economies have great impacts on economic and social processes in the “Global South.” State governments, supranational agencies, NGOs and multinational corporations all invest, or claim to invest, in the social equality and economic growth of so-called developing countries. Yet growth-oriented policies often have negative side effects, such as the reproducing of social inequalities, ecological degradation, cultural hegemony, economic exploitation, and the corrosion of local agency. In this course we untangle the politics of development taking place in the current era of global capitalism. Specifically, we analyze the interactions between (trans)national stakeholders and local populations, whereby we zoom in on the way those labelled 'poor' by stakeholders experience inequality and poverty. We also highlight potential and experienced gaps between intentions and outcomes of development policies and look at what anthropology can contribute to development debates and policies.

Teaching Methods

Lectures

Method of Assessment

Written assignment(s), including exam

Literature

To be announced in the course manual (on CANVAS)

Target Audience

2nd year bachelor students in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology; Students in the minor Development and Global Challenges; Students in the minor Anthropology; The course is also open as an elective.
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master
  • Bachelor