Development Studies

This course examines the damage and recovery efforts following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Through guest lectures, field trips, and disaster prevention workshops, the class teaches essential disaster prevention and mitigation skills to respond to future disasters effectively. The class also discusses challenges of evacuation center management and the importance of disaster prevention in a multicultural society.  The class requires field trips to Ishinomaki City, Minamisanriku Town, and Higahimatushima town areas affected by the disaster. 

This course introduces students to the political science concepts, theories, and methods used to understand how these disciplines explain international development in the emerging economies. Students are exposed to the foundations of classical political philosophy and democratization theory, while also learning the foundational knowledge of capitalism, modernity, and social change from classical and contemporary scholars. Students gain an understanding of the different trends of development, policy reform and outcomes throughout the emerging regions, and how approaching development issues from political analytical frameworks can strengthen their understanding of development issues and challenges in the emerging economies.

This course examines the plurality of territorial development models and the economic, social, and political tensions they generate. Through a combination of lectures, guided discussions, applied readings, and case‑based tutorials, it explores how territories seek to enhance competitiveness, attractivity, innovation capacity, and socio‑economic resilience. The course introduces major debates in territorial development, including the definition and evolution of territorial development; competing models such as competitiveness clusters, recreational economies, and mega‑event strategies; the socio‑territorial conflicts arising from development choices; the tensions between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity. By examining contemporary cases—from innovation hubs like Paris‑Saclay to resource conflicts in the Allier region, and from the recreational economy to global sporting events—the course critically assess the impacts, limitations, and contradictions of different development approaches.

In this course, students build a foundation for studying development by engaging with first-hand research experiences of Sussex faculty, ranked as the world’s number one for International Development. Each week, a different lecturer shares how they’ve approached development, introducing key concepts and ideas rooted in their own research, and discussing real places and pressing issues. Students explore a variety of approaches to defining and understanding development, gaining insights into the diversity of perspectives that shape the field.

This survey course examines innovation holistically, encouraging students to question the status quo and critically examine both the positive and negative impacts of innovation. 

Innovation is often hailed as the ultimate solution to many challenges, ranging from economic growth to technological advancement. However, this enthusiastic embrace of innovation frequently overlooks its significant negative effects on individuals, society, politics, and the environment. While innovation has propelled societies forward in many areas, it has also created new problems, often exacerbating inequalities and producing unforeseen consequences. 

Through lectures and debates on current case studies—such as climate change, the brain drain from poorer countries to developed nations, and the impact of artificial intelligence on individuals and society—students will explore the multifaceted nature of innovation and develop principles for a more inclusive and responsible approach. This course challenges students to think critically about who benefits from innovation and who may be disadvantaged, prompting consideration of ethical, social, and environmental dimensions alongside economic and technological ones. By engaging with diverse perspectives, students gain an appreciation for the complexity of innovation and the importance of a balanced approach. 

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their critical role in shaping global development. It provides the knowledge and skills necessary to critically analyze, evaluate, and contribute to the progress towards these goals, particularly within the context of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It prepares students for a range of professional roles where understanding and facilitating sustainable development is key.

This course covers the politics of development at various geographical scales (urban, national, and international). It also examines how partnerships and negotiations work among various participants who have conflicted, competed, and cooperated throughout the modern history of space/place making. Students learn skills to critically analyze the power relations that exist among different actors involved in development. The course asks “Who governs?” and “Who makes decisions or influences decision-making that leads to the formation of space?” Regarding the influence of decision-making, the course focuses on the politics of policy narratives and environmental discourses. Topics include What is the power in placemaking; Body Politics- Capitalizing, industrializing, and disciplining bodies; Critical Geopolitics; The geopolitics of nuclear weapons and nuclear power; The politics of memory and memory placemaking.  

This is a practical course covering the theory and practice of volunteering. The course focuses on understanding the minimum content for participating in community service and focusing on the practice of social service activities. Students learn how to plan and practice volunteer community service. Volunteer confirmation and volunteer diary must be submitted. 

Building on the theoretical constructs and skills of earlier courses, students are introduced to Community Development from a political economy of welfare perspective. This course uses youth development and contemporary issues as a lens for learning about community assessment and intervention strategies. The course provides the basic concepts, theory, processes and skills required for culturally appropriate assessment of systems and situations at community level, and community development as a strategy of interaction within a framework of youth and youth development in South and Southern Africa. Course entry requirements: At least second-year status.

This course explores key sustainable development challenges, including climate change, poverty, inequality and social justice. It explores the concept of sustainable development and assesses the effectiveness of a range of approaches to development. The role of government, business and civil society in addressing global challenges is considered.