Prof David Lewis

Dr Tine Hanrieder

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Health and International Development and MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies. This course is available on the MSc in Economic Policy for International Development. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process. For information on controlled access courses, including eligibility, application processes, deadlines, and departmental contact details, please refer to the Controlled Access Courses webpage.

How to apply: Places will be allocated with priority to ID and joint-degree students. If there are more ID and joint-degree students than can be accommodated, these places will be allocated randomly. 

Deadline for application: You should make your request to take ID courses by 12 noon Friday 26 September 2025.

You will be informed of the outcome by 12 noon Monday 29 September 2025.

Students do not need to write a statement to apply for this course.

This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes.

This course provides an inter-disciplinary introduction to development studies. We explore key issues such as concepts of development, the role of states and markets, questions of growth and redistribution, the relevance of colonial legacies, gender issues, climate change, and demography in development (key issues may change from year to year).

15 hours of seminars and 15 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.

There will also be a 1.5 hour exam revision session at the end of WT

Essay (1000 words).

Students will submit one formative essay of 1000 words.

A Sen, Development as Freedom (Anchor, 1999).

Chang, HJ (2002), Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective (London: Anthem Press).

Gardner, K and D Lewis (2015) Anthropology & Development: Challenges for the Twenty First Century (London: Pluto).

Sutoris, P and U Pradhan (2025) Reimagining Development: Bold Directions Towards A Thriving World (London: Hurst).

Recommendation for students with little previous exposure to economic debates:

Chang, HJ (2014). Economics: The User’s Guide. (London: Penguin Books).

Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period.

Two hour unseen exam (100%) in ST. Students will answer 2 essay questions from a choice of 8.