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Politics & Contested Development: Africa (DEVT90049)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
April
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | April |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject introduces students to important debates on the role of formal and informal politics in development in Africa. The subject explores the contested processes of socio-economic and political-institutional change across a variety of contexts in sub-Saharan Africa, together with the underlying dynamics of identity formation and allegiance, state formation, power divides and conflict. The subject encourages students to think critically about the normative implications of different approaches to the politics of development, and the empirical challenges of working in what are, in development, highly politically charged environments. This subject examines key themes in the study of Sub-Saharan African development, focusing on the political aspects of development, and applying theoretical and conceptual work in the field to the study of a range of particular development challenges facing the region. The course aims to provide students who have little prior study of Sub-Saharan Africa or African development with a foundation that can be used in further study. As such, the subject is selective in its choice of both general scholarly themes and empirical material.
Note: This subject is taught within the Masters in Development Studies, however students from other disciplines in the social sciences are welcome.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students are expected to:
- Identify and critically engage with key contemporary debates about development in Africa, including those relating to colonialism and neo-colonialism, modernity, and neoliberalism/
- Identify and understand processes of identity formation and allegiance, and related political conflict in the African context and how these are underpinned by contested development paradigms and shape processes of development in Africa
- Explore the role of state, private, and non-state actors in development, and the place of gender in development policy and planning;
- Identify and understand some of the key issues in contemporary development in African including socio-economic and political inequalities, and the politics of land rights, land reform, natural resource access and use, democratisation, urban poverty, gender-based disadvantage, social conflict and race relations, migration, climate change, aid, humanitarian intervention and security;
- Develop analytical and some research skills in order to critically connect scholarly debates to contemporary development issues.
Generic skills
Students who complete this subject should:
- Enhance their competence in critical thinking and verbal argumentation through participation in seminar discussions;
- Demonstrate a high level of competence in critical and theoretical thinking and argumentation in written form;
- Develop independent research skills, both desk-based and interview based; and/or develop critical policy analysis skills;
- Be able to implement academic protocols of research, writing and presentation;
- Be able to identify and analyse complex and on-going empirical development issues.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Undergraduate background in development studies, politics or area studies (Africa).
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
A critical review essay
| 10 Days after the end of teaching | 45% |
A research essay
| During the examination period | 55% |
Hurdle requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Seminar/workshop attendance is compulsory for all classes and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: a request for exemption from the attendance requirement may be sought in exceptional circumstances, such as illness.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- April
Principal coordinator Lesley Pruitt Wolf Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 32 hours total, comprised of seminars and workshops delivered as an intensive over 4 days Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 17 April 2020 to 2 May 2020 Last self-enrol date 20 April 2020 Census date 1 May 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 26 June 2020 April contact information
Time commitment details
Total 170 hours
Additional delivery details
Seminars/Workshops run from 9am until 5pm on each scheduled day: 17 & 18 April, and 1 & 2 May 2019.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of the subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Development Studies Major Tailored Specialisation Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Major Development Major Development Specialisation (formal) Development Studies - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022