Students
ANTH8015 – Development Theory and Practice
2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jaap Timmer
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MDevStud or MGlobalHlthDevStud or MPH or GradCertGlobalHlthDevStud or MDevStudGlobalHlth or GradCertDevStudGlobalHlth or MAppAnth or MDevCult or MIntRel or MPASR or GradDipPASR or MPASRMDevStud or GradDipIntRel or GradDipPP or MPPP or MSocEntre or GradCertSocEntre or MPlan or MSecStrategicStud or MCrim or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MPPPMDevStud or MPPPMPASR or MPPPMIntRel or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCTerrorismMCrim or MTransInterMIntRel or GradDipSIA or GradCertSIA or 10cp in ANTH units at 8000 level
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines issues and debates concerning international aid to developing countries. Through close examination of case studies, students will come to understand donor-driven development as both a way of thinking and a set of practices that affect recipient populations in profound ways. Students will gain insights into how development 'works' from two inter-related perspectives: anthropology of development, which examines theoretical approaches to development over the past 50 years, and development anthropology, which engages with contemporary practices within international aid programs. We will look at individual projects run by NGOs and also by the Asian Development Bank as well as related literature to consider what works and what doesn't. We also discuss the broader context in which development takes place and examine topics such as Australia's aid policies, poverty alleviation and equity, Chinese models of development assistance, consulting agencies, NGOs and new social movements, sustainable development, gender issues, development-induced displacement, social justice and social impact mitigation. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of why international aid remains such a contested arena within international relations and such a problematic context for altruistic notions of help.
- ULO2: Read widely and actively participate in discussions concerning interactions between development agencies and target communities within the developing world and thereby gain a detailed picture of what international aid entails.
- ULO3: Think critically and reflexively about recent debates informing development, the motivations behind international aid, what makes development assistance successful in improving lives and/or why there are often difficulties in achieving this.
- ULO4: Examine the social outcomes that emerge from programs of international aid by looking beyond the rhetoric and developing an appreciation of the complex factors that influence these outcomes.
- ULO5: Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to international aid.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation summary | 10% | No | TBA |
| Research proposal | 25% | No | TBA |
| Research Essay | 40% | No | TBA |
| Short answer essay | 25% | No | TBA |
Presentation summary
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: TBA
Weighting: 10%
A summary report of group work presentation and its findings
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of why international aid remains such a contested arena within international relations and such a problematic context for altruistic notions of help.
- Read widely and actively participate in discussions concerning interactions between development agencies and target communities within the developing world and thereby gain a detailed picture of what international aid entails.
- Examine the social outcomes that emerge from programs of international aid by looking beyond the rhetoric and developing an appreciation of the complex factors that influence these outcomes.
Research proposal
Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: TBA
Weighting: 25%
Students will review literature and prepare proposal for their larger research paper
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of why international aid remains such a contested arena within international relations and such a problematic context for altruistic notions of help.
- Think critically and reflexively about recent debates informing development, the motivations behind international aid, what makes development assistance successful in improving lives and/or why there are often difficulties in achieving this.
- Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to international aid.
Research Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: TBA
Weighting: 40%
Students will prepare a final research paper on a relevant topic of their choosing
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of why international aid remains such a contested arena within international relations and such a problematic context for altruistic notions of help.
- Read widely and actively participate in discussions concerning interactions between development agencies and target communities within the developing world and thereby gain a detailed picture of what international aid entails.
- Think critically and reflexively about recent debates informing development, the motivations behind international aid, what makes development assistance successful in improving lives and/or why there are often difficulties in achieving this.
- Examine the social outcomes that emerge from programs of international aid by looking beyond the rhetoric and developing an appreciation of the complex factors that influence these outcomes.
- Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to international aid.
Short answer essay
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: TBA
Weighting: 25%
Students will answer questions on assigned readings
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of why international aid remains such a contested arena within international relations and such a problematic context for altruistic notions of help.
- Think critically and reflexively about recent debates informing development, the motivations behind international aid, what makes development assistance successful in improving lives and/or why there are often difficulties in achieving this.
- Examine the social outcomes that emerge from programs of international aid by looking beyond the rhetoric and developing an appreciation of the complex factors that influence these outcomes.
- Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to international aid.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Weekly seminar
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
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Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
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When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook