Undergraduate Course: Contemporary Issues in International Development (AFRI10004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| 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 honors level. The course will draw on multidisciplinary expertise within the Centre of African Studies on international development. The course will be taught in a way that is accessible and open to honors students across SPS. The course will therefore meet a growing demand from students for option courses related to 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.
25-26 Topic Details:
Artificial Futures: AI and International Development
The release of ChatGPT 3.5 in November 2022 was described by one as ¿the shot that was heard around the world¿. The use of such hyperbole to describe digital innovations is now fairly common. However, many computer scientists and social scientists agree that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to have a far-reaching impact on economics, politics, and society. Some would go so far as to argue that it can pose an existential threat to humanity. AI is, of course, not a new phenomenon. It has long been applied in different areas of society, the economy and politics. However, recent years have seen a significant acceleration in innovation and the capabilities of AI models, with many leading AI experts predicting that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is around the corner. In this course, we will examine the social, economic, and political implications of this rapid acceleration in AI innovation and its increasing adoption within the general populace. Some of the topics we will look at include the following:
¿ From winters to hype cycles: The History of AI
¿ AI, Economic Growth and the Digital Divide
¿ Smart Cities and Algorithmic Governmentality
¿ Race, Gender and Algorithmic Bias
¿ The Environmental Footprint of AI
¿ AI and Exploitation
¿ AI and Security
¿ Regulating Artificial Intelligence
¿ AI and Geopolitics ¿ the chip war
¿ Responsible AI
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students who have not taken courses in social science subjects should contact the Course Organizer to confirm if they are eligible to take this course. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 4 Social Sciences courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
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| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
40 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
10 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Participation: 10%
Essay: 50% 2500words
Exam: 40%
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| Feedback |
Students will be offered advice and feedback on their workplans/outlines in preparation for the group presentation, essay and exam, which they may obtain on request. This feedback and guidance will be provided during the course convener's weekly office hours and by appointment. In particular, students will have received written feedback on the essay before they are required to sit the exam. Feedback on tutorial participation will be provided through an individual Tutorial Participation feedback sheet, which will be given to the students after the final tutorial |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate comprehensive understanding of contemporary debates on the chosen event, from both a theoretical and empirical perspective.
- apply specialist in-depth knowledge of specific areas and issues in relation to the chosen event.
- critically engage with key explanatory theories, concepts, institutions and issues in the study of the chosen event.
- deploy effective communications skills, both written and verbal, to provide clear and concise analysis of the topic at hand.
- engage in critical thinking, reflection and debate for academic and non-academic consumption.
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Reading List
Bompani B. and Frahm-Arp M. (2010), Development and Politics from Below, Exploring Religious Spaces in the African State, Palgrave-MacMillan, London (2010)
Clarke G. & Jennings M. (2008) Development, Civil Society and Faith-Based Organisations. Bridging the Sacred and the Secular
Deneulin S. and Bano M. (2009) Religion in Development: Rewriting the Secular Spirit, Zed Books.
Lunn J. (2009) 'The Role of Religion, Spirituality and Faith Development' in Third World Quarterly, vol. 30 n. 5, pp. 937-951
Yahya, M. (2007) 'Polio Vaccines. No Thank You' Barriers to Polio Eradication in Northern Nigeria in African Affairs, vol 106, n. 423, pp. 185-204
Benedetti C. (2006) Islamic and Christian Inspired Relief NGOs: Between Tactical Collaboration and Strategic Diffidence? in Journal of International Development, vol. 18, pp. 849-859
Benthall J. (2006) Islamic Aid in a north Malian enclave in Anthropology Today, vol. 22, n. 4.
Clarke G. (2006) 'Faith Matters: Faith-based Organisations, Civil Society and International Development' in Journal of International Development, vol.18, pp. 835-848
Hearn J. (2002), 'The invisible NGO: US Evangelical Missions in Kenya' in Journal of Religion in Africa, vol32, 1
Rakodi C. (2024), Religious Organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia: Connections to Society and the State. Routledge
Hoel N et Al. (2019) Religion, the Body and Sexuality. An Introduction. Routledge
Wilcox M. (2021) Queer Religiosities. An Introduction to Queer and Transgender Studies in Religion. Rowman & Littlefield.
Van Klinken A. & Chitando E. (eds) (2016) Public Religion and the Politics of Homosexuality. Routledge.
Kuria M., Bompani B., van Klinken A. with Parsitau D (2024) Stories of Change. Religious Leaders and LGBTIQ Inclusion in East Africa. Bloomsbury
Cornwall A. eds (2008) Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development.
Other sources of information:
Journal of Religion and Development
Journal of Religion and Sexuality
Journal of Religion in Africa
Critical African Studies
African Affairs
Journal of Modern African Studies
Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE)
Wold Development
Journal of International Development
Development and Change
The Conversation
BBC Africa |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical thinking and analysis
Team work
Effective written and verbal communication
Effective research and analytical skills |
| Keywords | religion,morality,values,international development,faith-based organisations |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr George Karekwaivanane
Tel:
Email: G.karekwaivanane@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Brodie Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)51 3139
Email: Brodie.Hamilton@ed.ac.uk |
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