Introduction to Development Studies
2023/2024 | Radboud University Nijmegen
, Wed 6 Sep Introductory lecture (LvK): What is Development Studies?
Development studies
• Characteristics
o Relatively new: originated in the 1950’s
▪ It gained prominence after World War II due to growing global inequality awareness.
▪ Initially, it focused on economic growth and modernization measured by GDP per capita.
▪ Critics argued for a broader view, including education, health, and well-being.
o Multidisciplinary
o Multilevel: From locally to globally focused
o Development encompasses economic, social, and political dimensions, not just wealth.
• Research in development asks…
o What development is happening or should be happening?
o Why is this development happening or should this development be happening?
• Goals of Development studies
o How can we make development happen?
o Diagnosis> Prescription
o Idealism: A better world, promoting emancipatory and inclusive social changes
• Development is complex, not uniform, and varies among countries.
o Goldin introduces the "developmental ladder" concept, depicting stages with unique challenges.
• Development is intertwined with globalization as nations become more interconnected and interdependent.
The Sustainable development goals (United Nations)
• The United Nations created a list of 17 goals promoting and inspiring worldwide development
o Commonly known and recognized within science fields and companies
o Fostering collaborations and actions
• The goals intentionally all stand at equal priority
o This raises the question; does this make the goals seem more unrealistic?
• Critics: These goals are superficial. Solving development problems is too complicated to be solved by a list
of goals.
o Improving on one problem based on the SDG, can cause another problem in the SDG to also be
solved, but it can also worsen other problems.
o It doesn’t include the complexity of solving problems in differently functioning societies;
sometimes the goals have to be adapted to differentiating cultures.
Mon 11 Sep LvK: Key Concepts & Indicators of Development: Beyond Money-Metrics
2023/2024 | Radboud University Nijmegen
, Wed 6 Sep Introductory lecture (LvK): What is Development Studies?
Development studies
• Characteristics
o Relatively new: originated in the 1950’s
▪ It gained prominence after World War II due to growing global inequality awareness.
▪ Initially, it focused on economic growth and modernization measured by GDP per capita.
▪ Critics argued for a broader view, including education, health, and well-being.
o Multidisciplinary
o Multilevel: From locally to globally focused
o Development encompasses economic, social, and political dimensions, not just wealth.
• Research in development asks…
o What development is happening or should be happening?
o Why is this development happening or should this development be happening?
• Goals of Development studies
o How can we make development happen?
o Diagnosis> Prescription
o Idealism: A better world, promoting emancipatory and inclusive social changes
• Development is complex, not uniform, and varies among countries.
o Goldin introduces the "developmental ladder" concept, depicting stages with unique challenges.
• Development is intertwined with globalization as nations become more interconnected and interdependent.
The Sustainable development goals (United Nations)
• The United Nations created a list of 17 goals promoting and inspiring worldwide development
o Commonly known and recognized within science fields and companies
o Fostering collaborations and actions
• The goals intentionally all stand at equal priority
o This raises the question; does this make the goals seem more unrealistic?
• Critics: These goals are superficial. Solving development problems is too complicated to be solved by a list
of goals.
o Improving on one problem based on the SDG, can cause another problem in the SDG to also be
solved, but it can also worsen other problems.
o It doesn’t include the complexity of solving problems in differently functioning societies;
sometimes the goals have to be adapted to differentiating cultures.
Mon 11 Sep LvK: Key Concepts & Indicators of Development: Beyond Money-Metrics
