This unit introduces students to the origins of International Development by situating its emergence and evolution in historical context. Students will come to understand how contemporary ideas about development that emerged out of the ashes of the Second World War in 1945 are intrinsically bound up with two stories: an older story of capitalism, colonialism and conquest, as well as a newer, still-unfolding one - that of the Cold War and, later, of neoliberalism. The unit also contains an optional, self-funded two-week travel intensive to Geneva, where students will observe sessions of the United Nations Organisation's various agencies in action, and attend masterclasses featuring academic experts and development practioners from UN agencies and leading NGOs.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a nuanced knowledge of the history of development theories and practices across its evolutionary arc;
2. Evaluate the origins, roles, and issues surrounding international development agencies;
3. Appraise the contributions, successes, and failures of international development agencies since the post-war period;
4. Understand how key concepts of development discourse have changed over time, and how those concepts relate to their historical, social and political context; and
5. Develop professional networking skills in international contexts.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.