Development Studies is an interdisciplinary field of research and teaching that takes “development” as its central concern. It addresses the processes of social, cultural, ecological, economic and political change, as well as the people, organizations, practices and knowledge that participate in these development-related processes.
Development studies is a diverse field of study that takes “development” as its main focus. “Development” is a contested concept, encompassing two broad groups of interests.
The first relates to processes of social, cultural, environmental, economic and political change. Development in this sense can be a normative concept involving incremental change, as well as a focus of criticism, with attention to the unequal, contradictory and potentially negative consequences of change associated with development.
The second set of concerns relates to architecture focused on achieving certain goals, which are often based on improving people’s well-being and sustainable use of natural resources. This architecture entails a variety of actors, including states, multilateral organizations, NGOs, multinational corporations, small enterprises, community-based organizations, local volunteers, and more. The study of intentional development can be directed toward working with these groups and individuals to improve development practice, and/or efforts to uncover potential negative and unintended consequences of development.
Although these two groups of interests can be studied separately, they are closely related and it can be argued that they should be studied together. Intentional development is part of broader change processes; Efforts to understand these processes in their historical and contemporary context is vital to improving development practices and revealing their consequences. All concepts of development are global, relational processes that occur in and between all countries and are influenced by and have consequences for local and individual scales.
The DSAA recognizes that development studies is a hotly contested field, and we are looking for ways to advance the field by providing a space for ongoing and inclusive dialogue and debate about the complex nature of development – what it is, what the diverse actors believe it should be, and how to get there.
Characteristics of Development Studies
>Development studies are geared toward improving development tools, practices, and policies in the normative and intentional sense, as well as toward critiquing these tools, practices, policies, and broader change processes. >>Development studies also entail critical thinking about development goals and the way they are implemented to help improve policies, approaches, and outcomes.
>>Development studies are interdisciplinary, co-forming them through disciplines such as law, anthropology, sociology, gender, economics, political science, international relations, human geography, critical historical studies, environmental humanities, indigenous studies, colonial and postcolonial studies as well as some studies. in technical and natural sciences. Engaging across these disciplines adds to the methodological and theoretical rigor of development studies.
>>Development studies are contested, not least because development is disputed. The development project was used, among other things, to justify colonial rule, through the expropriation of land and other resources, and was integral to the expansion of economic structures that benefited the Global North at the expense of the Global South. At the same time, the global south has resisted aspects of development, for example through the South-South cooperation agenda. Comprehensive development interventions have increased human well-being on a global (albeit unequal) scale, while persistent inequality, deprivation and suffering still require action. The heavy burden of development on the environment, including land, forests, water, flora, fauna and climate, has become a major concern in development studies.
>>Evolution raises questions about power. Strength is recognized in development studies as not only a physical force but also an integral part of knowledge and practices. The DSAA provides a space for dialogue to constantly rethink and broaden our understanding of the political and social nature of development.
>>Genuine partnerships are essential to development studies, which necessarily start from the recognition of the unequal power relations between the Global North and the Global South and the relations of solidarity within the Global South. Partnerships are not limited to North-South relations, they have always included South-South cooperation and multi-level exchanges within both high- and low-income countries. Development studies aspire to produce knowledge in collaboration with individuals and organizations.
>>Development takes place at different geographical scales, from small bottom-up projects in local communities, to large projects of national importance, to multinational initiatives. These may include local small groups of community members, state or national governments, national or international NGOs, through bilateral and multilateral organisations. Development practitioners and development studies academics work on all of these areas and scales.