The seminar covers central concepts and controversies of development research and development cooperation. We will start by introducing key theoretical concepts of development and strands of critique. We will then discuss central controversies concerning normative ideas about developmental success/failure, and contemporary programmatic policy changes that characterise the research and policy fields of development. We will also engage with radically critical perspectives on the discourse and practice of development cooperation (e.g. based on post- and decolonial perspectives).
We put a special focus on addressing the increasingly influential role of private, transnational actors: the power and responsibility of large corporations as development actors, their regulation, and the development policy controversies around global production, trade, and financial markets. These represent key issue areas for international development. We approach them by linking development research with theories of transnational private governance and global political economy. We include empirical case studies.
The seminar will enable students to deepen their knowledge of development concepts and political-economic paradigms, and to critically engage with the sometimes contradictory assumptions and policies associated with them. Students will learn to critically reflect on the development discourse, its different theoretical approaches and related practices of international cooperation with a view towards engagement in their own research projects.
The course is open to students of MA Internationale Beziehungen und Entwicklungspolitik and MA Development and Governance.
The course language is English.
Students are expected to attend regularly, to read assigned texts, and to engage actively in our discussions.
At the end of the lecture period, students will write a short policy brief as an examination assignment (to be submitted by 31 March 2026). All necessary details will be discussed in the course.
