Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102577

Coordinator Melissa Phillips Opens in new window

Description This unit enables students to map the emergence of international humanitarian and development agencies from the mid-20th century to the modern day. Students will consider and asses international efforts to end poverty, such as the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the Rome Declaration and Plan of Action on World Food security, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A particular emphasis is placed on developing the skills to gauge the accountability and ethical approaches of humanitarian actors and agencies in global development.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Studies in Human Society, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Assumed Knowledge

A broad and coherent knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines in Arts or Social Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Identify and assess enablers and barriers to development from historical, geographical, political, demographic, sociological and economic perspectives, and the various roles of different actors in development processes.
2. Describe and critically assess current international efforts to end poverty.
3. Critically consider the accountability and ethical approaches of humanitarian actors and agencies in global development.
4. Theorise the nexus between humanitarian interventions and development processes.
5. Critically review the ethical dimensions associated with the militarisation of development aid and humanitarian response.

Subject Content

1. The complex interplay of ideas surrounding international response and management of natural and man-made disasters, and the consequent efforts to induce development or to rebuild states.
2. The emergence of international humanitarian and development agencies from the mid-20th century to the modern day.
3. Current International efforts to end poverty, such as the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the Rome Declaration and Plan of Action on World Food security, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
4. Enablers and barriers to development from historical, geographical, political, demographic, sociological and economic perspectives.
5. Humanitarian and development actors and the various roles they play in intervention and development processes.
6. Accountability and ethical approaches of humanitarian actors and agencies in global development.
Ethical dimensions associated with the militarisation of development aid and humanitarian response.