SOCI 850: Sociology of Development

SOCI 850-001: Sociology of Development
(Spring 2022)

07:20 PM to 10:00 PM T

East Building 134

Section Information for Spring 2022

Sociology of Development as a disciplinary field rose to prominence after World War II as an integral part of a developmental regime that aimed at the reconstruction of societies torn by the misery of war and the impact of colonization. The Washington Consensus and its aftermath diminished the significance of this field, while critical perspectives such as the world systems theory were ill-equipped to analyze the transnational connections forged by neoliberal globalization. There is a renewed interest in the sociology of development currently, prompted by the numerous movements and counter-movements that constitute globalization and the failure of the market interventions to “develop” societies. The crystallization of this trend was the establishment of a Sociology of Development section of the American Sociological Association in 2011. In this course, we will examine this re-emergence of a Sociology of Development in the twenty-first century. What is the subject matter of this disciplinary area and how well can it represent the myriad of issues at work in the global South? How effectively can it survive/counter the critiques, specifically from the standpoint of the global South that has plagued development studies in general?  What possibilities does it offer to sociologists to pose new questions that stand at the intersection of globalization, political economy, political sociology and development? This class is a must for those graduate students interested in societal transformations in the global South.    

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Analyzes socioeconomic and political change, focusing on the poor countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Offers a basic descriptive understanding of processes of change in these countries and an introduction to major theoretical perspectives on development and globalization, from classical theories of comparative advantage to theories of imperialism, modernization, dependency, and globalization. May not be repeated for credit.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.

Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.