Students

ANTH8015 – Development Theory and Practice

2022 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Timothy Lynch
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 international aid to developing countries. Through close examination of historical and anthropological accounts, as well as particular 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. To understand how international aid has emerged as a key means of closing the gap between rich and poor in the contemporary world, the unit will focus on four key topics. Specifically, we will explore the history of global poverty and economic inequality, the emergence of human rights as a key vocabulary for staking claims to economic improvement, and the complexity of the relationship between culture and development, examining in some detail the ways in which culture can both impede and aid development projects. Finally, we will pay critical attention to why programs designed to help people in the developing world have sometimes fallen short of their goals.

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
Short essay 20% No Friday of Week 6
Research Essay 30% No Friday of Week 13
Leading discussion 15% No Designated weeks
Seminar participation 20% No Weekly
Discussion preparation guide 15% No Weekly

Short essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Friday of Week 6
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will write a short essay on designated topics on unit themes.

 


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.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Friday of Week 13
Weighting: 30%

 

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.

Leading discussion

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Designated weeks
Weighting: 15%

 

Depending on enrolment, students will lead seminar discussion in small groups two to three times over the course of the session. Students will be tasked with completing all readings for the week and leading an inclusive and compelling conversation on weekly themes.

 


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.

Seminar participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will participate in an active and engaged manner in weekly seminar discussions.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 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.
  • Demonstrate command of anthropological knowledge and theories relevant to international aid.

Discussion preparation guide

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 15%

 

Weekly preparation and submission of a discussion preparation guide — a number of short answer questions designed to get students thinking about the reading in ways that will support discussion in seminar.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 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.

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

All required readings are availablt through Legato (on the iLearn page). Other resources are available through Macquarie university Library.

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:

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

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 2022.03 of the Handbook