| Description |
This course provides an overview of theories and concepts in the fields of international development and sociology to delineate the complexities of social change. Reflecting on case studies, this course examines the intersection of contextual (political, cultural, and socio-economic) factors and the international development agenda. It analyzes power struggles that occur at macro, meso, and micro levels and the consequent “positioning” and “position-taking” that define social change among different political and social actors in a given context.
To better depict complexities of international development and social change, this course will examine national and international projects and statistics related to gender equality and women empowerment, education, health, migration, environment, food security, labor market, unemployment, and poverty.
The first part of the course (4 sessions) provides the basic foundations and the historical and theoretical aspects of international development, i.e., a world order pursued by the Bretton Woods organizations as well as a discussion of some of the main discourses and mechanisms of international development including the UN charter and the declaration of Human Rights. It will also discuss relevant sociological theories that can explain social change.
The second part of the course (4 sessions) will provide further insights into functioning, funding, rights and responsibilities, and priorities of international development in the recent two decades and its impact on social change in the Global South. It will examine, the shifting role of the Global South States as well as the capitalist economic system, political authoritarianism, the global value chains, and development particularly focusing on poverty, health, education, gender and human rights, migration, and environment. |