MFD [Issues and Policies in Development] 212
Course Lecturer: Mr. Sebastian M. Mthatiwa
Consultation Hours: Tuesdays 10:30 to 11:30 am
Contacts: sebsmthatiwa@[Link]
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course introduces students to general development related issues and
policies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It
stresses the theoretical and historical perspectives of development with
special examples from Malawi.
Aim:
To equip students the general understanding of development related issues and policies
within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Expected Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
(a) critically analyse the concepts of development and sustainable development
(b) contribute to debates on the relationship between development and other aspects
of human welfare
Assessment Summary
(a) 40% Continuous Assessment
(b) 60% End of Semester Exam.
1. Topics Of Study:
A. Defining Development
Meanings of development
Development as universal history and
progress
Development as modernity
Human development
Dimensions of development
Economic development
Social development
o Political development
o Cultural Development
Ecological Development
Critical Perspectives in Development-
theoretical underpinnings
Modernisation
Structuralism
Dependency theory
Neo-Liberalism
Post-Structuralism
B. Development and Human Welfare
Development as Poverty reduction
Equality and Equity
Entitlements and Capabilities Paradigm
C. The development policies of Malawi since the colonial
era
Meaning of policy
Policy formulation
Historic factors in relation to policy
formulation
The Colonial Political Economy
Post-Colonial Development policies
pursued in Malawi
o 1964-1980
o 1980-1994
o 1994-2004
o 2004-present
D. Sustainable Development
The Concept of sustainability
Sustainable Livelihoods
Malthusian Views on Sustainability
E. The Social Sector in Development
Population and Development.
o Population growth and the quality
of life
o The development consequences
of high fertility: Malthusian
models
Education’s role in development
o Education policy in Malawi: an
overview
Health and development
o HIV/AIDS
Gender and development
o Women in development, Women
and Development, Gender and
development
o Women, human rights and
development
o Children in development
F. Agriculture and rural development
Meaning of rural development
o Rural Morphology
o Rurality
o Rural Sociology
o Rural Economy
Rural development approaches
o The Green Revolution
o Integrated Rural Development
o Basic Human needs approach
o The role of agriculture in rural
development
o Land tenure and reform
G. Trade and Industrialisation
Trade Policies
Industrial Strategies
Globalisation of world trade
The World Trade Organisation
Prescribed Texts
Ashley C, Carney D (1999) Sustainable Livelihoods: Lessons from Early
Experience. Department for International Development (DFID), UK.
Chinsinga B. and Dulani B. (2003) Property Rights and Environmental
Degradation in Developing Countries: Some Policy and Theoretical
Reflections, in Uledi-Kamanga B. (ed),.forthcoming
Ellis F, Biggs S (2001) Evolving themes in rural development 1950s–2000s.
Development Policy Review 19(4) 437–448.
Esho H., (1999) ‘Development and Poverty,’ Journal of Development
Assistance, Vol. 5, Number 1. (Photocopy, Reserve).
Masangano C. and Mthinda C. (2012). Pluralistic Extennsion System in
Malawi. IFPRI Discussion Paper 01171.
Matunhu, J. (2011). A critique of modernization and dependency theories in
Africa: Critical assessment. African Journal of History and Culture. 3(5): 65-
72. Available at:[Link] [Accessed on 2 June
2015].
Kayuni, H.M.(2011 ).. Malawi’s Economic and Development Policy Choices
from 1964 to 1980:An Epitome of ‘Pragmatic Unilateral Capitalism’
Nordic Journal of African Studies 20(2): 112–131 (2011)
UNDP (1998) UNDP Poverty Report: Overcoming Human Poverty. (OUP)
15. Recommended Readings
Depraz, s. (2018) Differentiating between Rural Areas:Indicators and
Typologies. HAL Archives, Id: halshs-01547488. [Link]
[Link]/halshs-01547488v2
Gillis et al., (1999) Economics and Development, 4th Edition, WW Norton and
Company, New York.
Harris et al. (eds.) (1995) The Institutional Economics and Third World
Development, Routledge.
IBRD, (1981) Accelerated Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Washington:
IBRD.
IBRD, (1984) Towards Sustained Development in Sub Saharan Africa.
Washington: IBRD.
IBRD (nd) World Development Reports (Annual, Various). New York: OUP.
Kadzamira E. and Rose P., ‘Educational Policy Choice and Policy Practice in
Malawi: Dilemmas and Disjunctures’, IDS Working Paper 124, Brighton.
Mefalopulos, P. (2009).Development Communication Source Book:
Broadening the Boundaries of Communication. World Bank: Washington D.C.
Midlasrky M.I. (ed) Inequality, Democracy and Economic Development,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Chambers, R. (1983) Rural Development: Putting the last first, USA ,
Longman.
Elliott, J., (2013). An Introduction to Sustainable Development. 4th edition.
New York:Routledge.
Todaro, M, P & Smith, S.C. (2012) Economic Development (11ed),
USA:Addison-Wesley.
World Bank (2012). Malawi: Community Based Rural Land Development
Project. Washington DC: The World Bank.
Deneulin, S &Shahani.,L (2009) An introduction to the human development
and capability approach : freedom and agency, UK :Earthscan.
DFID (1999). Sustainable livelihoods guidance sheets. Retrieved 9 November
2017 from
[Link]
%2Blivelihoods%2Bguidance%2Bsheets
Peet, R. &Hartwick, E. (2009) Theories of development : contentions,
arguments, alternatives, New York: The Guilford Press.
UNDP, Human Development Reports (Annual, Various), (New York, OUP.)
Zuvekas C., (1979) Economic Development: An introduction, London:
Macmillan.
