GI420      Half Unit
Globalisation, Gender and Development: Theorising Policy and Practice

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Naila Kabeer

Availability

This course is available on the Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MiM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Gender, MSc in Gender (Research), MSc in Gender (Sexuality), MSc in Gender, Peace and Security, MSc in Gender, Policy and Inequalities, MSc in Global Politics, MSc in Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research), MSc in Human Rights, MSc in Human Rights and Politics, MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course cannot be taken alongside GI407 Globalisation, Gender and Development.

There will be limited availability on this course - 34 places.

Course content

This course is concerned with theorising policies and practice in the field of gender and international development.  The course outlines key contributions to the analysis of power within public policy making processes and examines feminist visions of social change which draw on ideas about capabilities, empowerment, citizenship and gender justice to engage with these policy processes.  This is explored in greater detail through case studies of feminist struggles over recognition, redistribution and representation as they play out in relation to particular policy issues, namely violence against women, microfinance, social protection, gender quotas and collective action.

Teaching

This course runs in Lent Term.  It contains both asynchronous and interactive teaching and learning elements.

There will be a reading week in week 6 in line with departmental policy.

Formative coursework

One essay of 1500 words to be handed in midway through the LT.

Indicative reading

• Benería, L. Berik, G and Floro, M.  (2015) Gender, Development and Globalization: Economics as if All people Mattered, London: Routledge. (2nd Edition).

• Chant, S. (ed.) (2010) International Handbook of Gender and Poverty: Concepts, Research, Policy, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

• Cook, S. and Kabeer, N. (2010) Social Protection as Development Strategy, London: Routledge.

• Cornwall, A.,Edstrom, J. and Greig, A. eds. (2011) Men and Development: Politicising Masculinities, London: Zed Books.

• Cornwall, A., Harrison, E. & Whitehead, A. (eds) (2007) Feminisms in Development: contradictions, contestations, and challenges, London: Zed Books.

• Devaki, J. and Elson, D. (2011) Harvesting Feminist Knowledge for Public Policy, IDRC, London: Sage

• Escobar, A. (2011) Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World, Princeton Princeton University Press

• Jaggar, A. (2014) Gender and Global Justice, Bristol: Polity

• Kabeer, N. (2001) The Power to Chose. Bangladeshi women and labour market decisions in London and Dhaka, London: Verso.

• Kabeer, N. (2003) Gender Mainstreaming in Poverty Eradication and the Millennium Development Goals: a handbook for policy-makers and other stakeholders, London: Commonwealth Secretariat.

•  Long, N., Jingzhong,Y., Yihuan,W. (2012)  Rural transformations and development- China in context: the everyday lives of policies and people, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

• Marchand, M. and Runyan, A. (2011) Gender and Global Restructuring, second edition London: Routledge.

• Milanovic, B. (2016) Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization, Harvard: Harvard University Press

• Mirchandani, K. (2012) Phone Clones. Authenticity Work in the Transnational Service Economy, Ithaca: ILR Press.

• Ong, A. (2010) Spirits of Resistance and capitalist Discipline, 2nd Edition New York: Suny Press.

• Patel, R. (2010) Working the Night Shift. Women in India’s Call Centres, Stanford: University Press.

• Perrons, D. (2004) Globalization and Social Change, London: Routledge.

• Visvanathan, N. et.al. (2012) The Women, Gender and Development Reader, London: Zed Books.

• Selwyn, B. (2014) The Global Development Crisis, Cambridge: Polity Press.

• Stiglitz, J. (2015) The Great Divide. Unequal Societies and What We Can Do About Them, London: Penguin.



In addition a range of institutional reports will be referred to including for example

* ILO (2015) World Employment and Social Outlook: The Changing Nature of Jobs, Available at: http://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/weso/2015-changing-nature-of-jobs/WCMS_368626/lang--en/index.htm

* UNDP (2014) Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017. Available at: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/womens-empowerment/gender-equality-strategy-2014-2017/

* UNDP (2012) Powerful Synergies: Gender Equality, Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability. Available at: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/womens-empowerment/powerful-synergies/

* UN Women (2015) Progress of the World’s Women. Transforing Economies, Realizing Rights. Available at: http://progress.unwomen.org/en/2015/

* UNRISD (2015) UNRISD Classics, Volume II: Gendered Dimensions of Development. Available at: http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BCCF9/(httpPublications)/1585F4AEF409C253C1257E2700652AA8?OpenDocument

[Note this is an edited collection of classic articles – take a look at these – you may find some on the reading list – but also see the recently written introduction by Silke Staab and Shahra Razavi]

World Bank (2012) World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development. 

Assessment

Essay (100%, 3000 words) in the ST.

Student performance results

(2016/17 - 2018/19 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 19.2
Merit 64.6
Pass 16.2
Fail 0

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Gender Studies

Total students 2019/20: 41

Average class size 2019/20: 14

Controlled access 2019/20: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication