Rethinking Development

By Prof. Satyapriya Rout | University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

Learners enrolled: 198

The course "Rethinking Development" aims to sociologically examine the complexities of the process of development as it was unfolded in the societies of the developing world. It explores specific issues of development such as modernisation, poverty, inequality, underdevelopment; as well contemporary concerns such as capability, decentralization, displacement, gender, participation and sustainable development. The course reviews the major debates on development from two important theoretical perspectives, i.e. modernization theory and dependency theory. It also highlights the post-development as well as the world system perspectives of development.

Course Objective
The broad objective of the course is to provide the students with a comprehensive conceptual, theoretical and empirical background to the process of development. The course offers a broad overview of the way development is conceptualized and contested in social sciences literature.

Course learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the students will be able to:

Explain the historical trajectories and contemporary concerns of development.
Differentiate between different approaches of development and illustrate the linkages between development and modernisation
Discuss the major theoretical perspectives and conceptual categories in sociology of development
Assess the contemporary development paradigm and identify its major concerns

Summary

Course Status :	Completed
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	16 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	5
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	15 Jan 2024
End Date :	04 May 2024
Enrollment Ends :	29 Feb 2024
Exam Date :	19 May 2024 IST
SHIFT :	1

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

UNIT 1 : Unpacking Development (3 weeks – 9 Lecture Modules)

Locating the idea and origin of development
Meaning of development: A historical journey
Development: The Concept & its Critique
Social Justice Approach to Development
Rights based approach to Development
Development with Dignity
From modernisation to Social Development
Human Development Paradigm
Developmentalism: A Critique

UNIT 2 : Theorising Development (4 weeks – 12 Lecture Modules)

Introduction to Development Theories
The Concept of Modernisation and Development
Modernisation and Stages of Economic Growth
Socio-historical and Socio-structural perspectives of Modernisation
Socio-psychological perspective of Modernisation
Sociological perspective of Modernisation: The model of a modern man
Modernisation Theory: A Critique
Neo-Marxist Theories of Development
Underdevelopment and Dependency
Underdevelopment Theory: A Critique
World System Theory
Post-development Theories

UNIT 3 : Developmental Regimes in India (3 weeks – 9 Modules)

Political Economy of Development in India
Growth and developmental regimes in India
Varieties of developmental regimes in India
Political Regimes, Poverty and Development in India
Democracy and Economic Transformation in India
Economic Growth and Social Opportunity in India
Democracy, Decentralisation and Development in India
Neo-liberalism and Development
Globalisation and Post-Colonial States

UNIT 4 : Issues in Development Praxis (4 weeks – 12 Modules)

Development as Freedom
Capability Approach
Capability, Wellbeing and Development
Historical Emergence of Sustainable Development
The Concept of Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Globalization and Development
Self-help Groups (SHGs) and development
Social capital and development
Gender and development
Development, displacement and rehabilitation
Participation and development
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Rural Development.

Unit 5: Development Policies and Programmes in India (3 weeks - 9 Modules)

Decentralization and Development: Conceptual Issues
Tribal Self-Governance in 5^th Scheduled Areas – The PESA Act
Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Policies and Programmes
Participatory Forestry: Policies and Programmes
Rural Infrastructure Development Programmes (Housing, Road networks, Electricity and Digital Connectivity)
Social Security Schemes
Employment and Livelihood Schemes
Legal and Policy Perspective to Water in India
Rural Drinking Water Supply in India: Policies and Programmes

Books and references

Best available resources and Teaching/Learning Materials are referred at the end of each text module of the video lecture. The list of primary reading materials (essential readings) and additional reading materials are provided for each lecture module.

Instructor bio

Prof. Satyapriya Rout

University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

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Dr. Satyapriya Rout is a Professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad (UoH), Hyderabad, where he is teaching since August 2006. Prior to joining UoH, he worked as Lecturer in Sociology at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi from February 2004 to August 2006. At UoH, he teaches courses like Environmental Sociology, Sociology of Development, and Contemporary Development Issues.

Prof. Rout's areas of research interest broadly include environment and natural resource governance, environmental movements, decentralised governance and development. While inquiring into the question of community’s engagement with governance of natural resources, his research focuses upon forest and water.

Prof. Rout was awarded Sir Ratan Tata Visiting Fellowship for his post-doctoral research at Asia Research Centre, London School of Economics & Political Science, London, UK during October 2012 - June 2013. He was also awarded UKIERI visiting fellowship at LSE, London, UK (2015 - 16); SSPS-IASH visiting fellowship at University of Edinburgh, UK (2014); ICSSR-NRCT Indo-Thai visiting fellowship (2011); Legal Pluralism visiting fellowship at University of Neuchatel, Switzerland (2009).

He authored the following two books:

[2022] Urban Water Supply and Governance in India. Singapore: Springer Publications (Co-authored with Prof. Ruth Kattumuri, London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), London, UK).
[2019] Social Inequality and Access to Water: Equity, Sustainability and Participation in Rhetoric of Drinking Water Reforms in India". New Delhi: Serials Publications

His most recent journal publications are:

Rout, S. 2022. "Global Local Linkages in Contemporary Environmental Movements: Networking, Diffusion and Scale Shift in Niyamgiri Movement of Odisha". Sociological Bulletin, Vol. 71 (2): 210 - 231.
Rout, S. (along with Annu Yudik). 2021. “Environmental Movements in North-East India: Political Opportunity Structure and Movement Success”. Review of Development and Change (Sage Publications). 26 (2): 226 – 246.
Rout, S. 2021. “Sustainable Community Forestry: Evidences from Rural Thailand”. Current World Environment. 16 (3): 740 – 754.
Rout, S. [along with Moharaj, Prasant]. 2021. “Changing Climatic Conditions and Agricultural Livelihoods: An Impact Study in Jagatsinghpur District, Odisha”. Social Change, Vol. 51 (2): 160 – 179.
Rout, S. 2018. “Sustaining South-east Asia’s Forests: Community, Institutions and Forest Governance in Thailand”. Millennial Asia (Sage Publication). Vol. 9 (2): 140 – 161.

Course certificate

The course is of 5 credits. The assessment pattern of the course includes continuous assessment of 30 marks and end-semester examination of 70 marks. Students who successfully complete the course requirements will obtain the credits/certificate as per norms of SWAYAM Courses.

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