THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : South Asian Studies

Postgraduate Course: Key Debates in South Asian Development (SAST11003)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummarySince the early 1990s, several countries in South Asia have experienced unprecedented levels of economic growth and rapid social change. Yet the region is still home to a vast proportion of the world's poorest people. This course explores how South Asia became a 'development problem' in the decades since decolonisation, and focuses on the persistence of poverty despite the massive inflows of international development assistance in its various forms. We explore different dimensions of inequality to highlight the differential access of diverse social groupings to economic and social resources, and examine the impact of such inequalities on people's ability to benefit from development inputs in various sectors, such as agriculture, health, and education. This course complements Politics and Theories of Development by providing South Asia-specific examples. It is also a stand-alone option for other MSc programmes.

This course complements Politics and Theories of Development by providing South Asia-specific examples. It is also a stand-alone option for other MSc programmes.
Course description Academic Description:

A vast proportion of the world's poorest people live in South Asia; yet the sub-continent has seen massive inflows of international development assistance in its various forms.

This course explores how South Asia became a 'development problem' and the various strategies employed over the decades since colonial times to bring about social, political and economic transformation in South Asia. It considers the theories underpinning specific development strategies and initiatives, the social and political contexts in which they were undertaken, and the reasons for success and failure. The course will focus on specific examples of development initiatives in South Asia, considering the interaction amongst the range of actors involved (states, elites, peasants, civil society, multinational corporations, multilateral institutions, donors, NGOs, etc.). This course complements Politics and Theories of Development, providing South Asia-specific examples. It is also a stand-alone option for other MSc programmes.

Outline Content:

Introduction: course outline, South Asian poverty amidst economic growth
Historical background: colonial and post-independence development processes
The state, governance and corruption in South Asia
Fracture lines & intersectionality: class, gender, caste, community
Population growth and demographic challenges
Agricultural transformation, livelihoods and migration
Micro-finance and empowerment
Human development: health
Human development: education
Social movements: protest and violent conflict

Student Learning Experience:

The course is taught through lectures and seminars. Students will read key texts rooted in the history and politics of development in South Asia. Specific emphasis is given to contemporary debates in South Asian development. Students design, plan and write an essay for this course.

At the end of the course students will:

Have gained familiarity with the major historical factors affecting development in South Asia;

Have gained an understanding of how major development
theories have been applied in practice in different South Asian countries;

Will be able to examine critically the social, political and economic factors affecting development strategies.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Gain a familiarity with the major historical factors affecting development in South Asia
  2. Gain an understanding of how major development theories have been applied in practice in different South Asian countries
  3. Able to examine critically the social, political and economic factors affecting development strategies.
Reading List
Collier, P. 2007. The Bottom Billion: Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it
Gupta, A. & K. Sivaramakrishnan (eds) 2010. The State in India After Liberalization: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Narayan, D. & E. Glinskaya (eds) (2006) Ending Poverty in South Asia: Ideas That Work
Mosse, D. 2004.Cultivating Development: An Ethnography of Aid Policy and Practice
Shah, A. & J. Pettigrew (eds) 2010. Windows into a Revolution: Ethnographies of Maoism in South Asia
Spencer, J. 2007. Anthropology, politics and the state: democracy and violence in South Asia
World Bank (2009) South Asia: The End of Poverty http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentMDK:20969099~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:223547,00.html
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMr Jeevan Sharma
Tel: (0131 6)51 1760
Email: Jeevan.Sharma@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Casey Behringer
Tel: (0131 6)50 2456
Email: Casey.behringer@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information