1. Introduction to Development Studies
Development Studies as an inter-disciplinary,
multi- disciplinary and cross-disciplinary
field
Solomon
Mwije
2. Session
Objectives
Define development Studies
Discuss the evolution of development studies
Analyse development studies as a Development
Studies as Inter-disciplinary, Multi-
disciplinary,Trans-disciplinary and Cross-
Disciplinary
3. What is Development
Studies?
Academic/research discipline concerned with:
◦ focus on development issues and problems [processes of
change] in developing countries
◦ process of international development e.g., relations and
actions between developing countries and their former
colonial powers
◦ insights, theoretical perspectives and analysis of
developedand developing countries
4. What is Development
Studies?
◦ Research interests of post WorldWar II
◦ Motivated by underdevelopment in least developing
countries
◦ Production of knowledge to guide evidence-
based interventions
5. Evolution of Development
Thinking
Potter, R. B., Conway, D., Evans, R.
and Lloyd-Evans, S. (2012) Key
Concepts in Development Geography.
Los Angeles: Sage.
Robert B. Potter (2014) . The nature of
development studies (PART 1 1.3 – Pages
48-54). In Desai, V., Potter, R.B., (eds.)
(2014): Companion to Development
Studies. 3rd edition. Routledge
6. Evolution of Development Thoughts
and
Development
Studies
Decade DevelopmentThinking
1940s Roots of development practice following WorldWar II. Rich
nations taking responsibility to develop poor nations
1950s Relying on classical economic theories and development and
use of
economic models by Western nations to develop poor nations
1960s Emergence of radical political perspectives within mainstream
social sciences. Rethinking alternative development path.
Emergence of cross-disciplinary development studies at the
Institute of DS at University of Sussex in 1966
1970s Emergence of more radical approaches and more
subjective and humanistic thinking of development
practice. Introduction of development studies at the
University of East Anglia in 1973
(Desai & Potter, 2014,pp.50-
53)
(Potter & Conway,
2011)
7. Evolution of Development Thoughts
and
Development
Studies
Decade DevelopmentThinking
1980s The rise of neoliberal agenda (liberal free trade and
unregulated free markets). Push for private markets with
limited state interventions. Consolidation of development
studies as a subject though with commons with geography
1990s Emergence of post-modernism (ant-, post-, and beyond
earlier development agendas). Rise of doubts and
uncertainties about development studies and social
sciences.
2000s More emerging and pressing development realities and
challenges leading to more positive perceptions and views
about development issues. Thus,providing a case for more
development thinking and studies
(Desai & Potter, 2014,pp.50-
53)
(Potter & Conway,
2011)
8. Evolution of Development Thoughts
and Development Studies
Decade DevelopmentThinking
1950s - 1960s Development is about projects
1970s It is not about projects but the socio-
economic structures
1980s It is about policy structures
1990s It is about rights and freedoms
2000s It is about institutions (politics)
Onwards Looming confusion about many
development issues happening and the
relative roles of different actors
10. The development of development studies
as an academic subject (Desai & Potter, 2014,p.48)
Dates from 1950s and1960s as an academic subject at
universities and institutes
By British economists and social scientists deviating from classical
[pure] economics studying societies and economies
quantitatively
Emerging universities promising to “do things differently” to promote
multi- and inter-disciplinary studies across boundaries and
disciplines
Changes in thinking and practice
Establishment of The Institute of Development Studies at the
University of Sussex in 1966 then followed by other British,
11. Nature of Development
Studies
Mainly regarded as a social science discipline
BUT working of development issues involves active inter-
works between social scientists and many other from
different disciplines.
◦ Social scientists
◦ Economists
◦ Agriculturalists
◦ Environmentalists
◦ Health scientists
◦ Engineers
◦ Legal practitioners
…etc.
12. Nature of Development
Studies
“Development Studies is driven by real-world
issues and problems, rather than disciplinary
perspectives….[this] requires that different
disciplines find ways to communicate and pool
resources… disciplinary priorities are secondary to
engagement with the realities of men, women and
children living in poor countries and the processes
and policies which affect them.” (Mohan & Wilson,
2005)
13. Nature of Development
Studies
1. Development Studies as Inter-disciplinary, Multi-
disciplinary,Trans-disciplinary(Tribe Michael & Sumner
Andrew. 2004, p.6)
(Desai
&
2. Development Studies as a Cross-
Disciplinary
Porter, 2014,pp.48-49)
14. Development Studies
as:
Inter-disciplinary
◦ Individuals working within their own discipline but being
knowledgeable and experienced within more than one discipline
Multi-disciplinary
◦ Individuals working within their own discipline but with teams
consisting of people each knowledgeable and experienced in
their own discipline
Trans-disciplinary
◦ Integrating various disciplines to have them in totality
within development studies discipline
Tribe Michael & SumnerAndrew. (2004, pp.4-7).
16. Development Studies as a Cross-
Disciplinary
Rather than inter- or multidisciplinary, development
studies be looked at as cross-disciplinary (Desai &
Porter,2014, pp.48-49)
Bringing together various fields of study of poverty
and inequalities
◦ From economics to geography, history, anthropology,
sociology, demography, politics, international relations,
urban and regional planning
18. Relevance of Development
Studies
Provides understanding [positioning] of economies
and societies in the global economic change e.g.,
insightson institutions.
Offers explanations of complex nature of
development issues, problems and actors
Enables researchers and development
actors to understand events in a diversified
holistic manner
Delivers inter-, multi- and cross-disciplinary
ideas, knowledge and practices
19. Relevance: Development Studies provides “New
Ways” of
knowledge production
Diverse knowledge representation
Integration of knowledge production
Enlargement of theoretical frameworks
Flexible and reflexive research practices
Partnerships and collaborative knowledge
production
Dynamic research and problem solving
…etc.
More to this: See Berma & Sulehan (2004, p.55) Table 1
20. Development Studies
mission
Inter-, multi-, and cross- disciplinarity seeking to
understand economic, political, social, cultural and
technological issues mainly in ThirdWorld countries
Focus on contributing knowledge to solve ever
changing development problems/issues
Evaluation of changes from contextual, historical,
comparative perspectives
Ever evolving and changing in theoretical thinking and
21. So, Assignment
1
1) What is Development Studies to you?
◦ Tip: Give your own thinking not the definitions I provided.
2) How relevant do you find development studies as a student of either
Arts, Physical or Biological studies?
◦ Tip: Answer Question 2 based on your specific area of study.
For example:
See:
University of Johannesburg (2013). Development Studies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxgaVuflETI
We shall return to these questions towards the end of the semester
22. Some
references
1. Robert B. Potter (2014) .The nature of development studies (PART 1 1.3 –
Pages 48-54). In V.Desai, & R.B. Potter,(eds.) (2014): Companion to
Development Studies. 3rd edition.Routledge
2. Berma M & Sulehan J (2004). Being Multi-Disciplinary in Development
Studies:Why and How. Akademika, 64, 43-63
3. Mohan G,Wilson G. (2005).The antagonistic relevance of development
studies.
Progress in Development Studies, 5(4)261-278.
4. Henry Bernstein (2006) Studying development/development studies. African
Studies, 65:1, 45-62,
5. Tribe Michael & Sumner Andrew. (2004).The Nature of Development Studies:
An Exploration from the Standpoint of the BritishIrish Development Studies
Association. DSAAnnual Conference. London: Development Studies
Association (DSA)
6. Khan N.A. & Chowdhury, H.A. (2016).A probe into the genesis and current
trends of the growth of “Development Studies” as an Academic discipline in
