Geography of International Development GEOG 3682University of Colorado-BoulderSummer Session A 2004June 1-July 2RAMY N1B23M-F 11:00-12:35 Instructor: Dr. Donna RubinoffTA: Geneva MixonContact InformationDr. Rubinoff: Email: [email protected] (best way to contact me) Tel: 720-890-9306 (emergencies) Office Hours: directly after class or by appointmentGeneva Mixon: Email: [email protected] Tel: 720-562-6183 Office Hours: T/Th: 10-11:50 in the Norlin Coffee Shop (See for directions: http://www-libraries.colorado.edu/about/coffee.htm ) Course Web page: http://www.colorado.edu/geography/courses/geog_3682_sm04/“What is Geography?” A common misconception is that Geography is learning where things are. Obviously, it is important to know whereplaces are, but geographers also examine how places came to be what they now are, how they are related to other places, and in what ways processes at different scales constantly reshape places. One of the most exciting things about geography is that it requires the ability to integrate knowledge from a variety of different disciplines, such as geology, anthropology, history, political science, sociology, and economics, with a focus on space, place, and scale. In this class, we will use student-generated case studies of specific countries and regions as a way of illustrating the theories, discourses, processes, and practices of development; and the methods used by geographers to understand them. Course Overview“International Development” is an extremely broad, complex, and challenging topic; and there are many different ways of understanding its theory and implementing its processes. The most important objective of this class is to help students begin to see development not only from their positions in the rich, “developed” world, but to broadentheir perspectives to include the views of “those who are to be developed.” Throughout the course, we will constantly return to key questions, such as - “Does mainstream development help or hinder those in need?” - “What are the key spatial and process interlinkages that influence development outcomes?- “What are the keys to successful development?” Obviously, if the global community understood the last question, poverty and other problems would not exist, and so we will only begin to answer this question in five weeks. Ultimately, we will be concerned not only with the economic and social aspects of development, but we will continually return to the role of power, participation, voice, and vision as important factors for successful development outcomes. During our short summer school session, we will take a broad brush of the various issues that influence the problem of development. At the same time, students will be encouraged become quickly grounded in the historicalframeworks for development, to begin to develop a critical analysis of the data and writings that they will encounter; and to become “experts” in the case study country of their choice. With a primary focus on poorer countries, the course will be organized into five weekly segments: - Introduction to development, colonial histories and legacies, and development theory- Factors and systems of economic development - Environment, natural resources, and rural development- Social and political development- Transnational processes and institutions of development Course sources will include three general categories: readings from the textbook and articles to be linked online to the syllabus; class lectures and other presentations; and student generated research and discussions. You will note that there are no exams in this class. In the end, I hope that we can walk a fine line between making this course a worthwhile experience and recognizing that it IS summer!Course Grading - NO EXAMS- Student Research Paper/Project: (5 parts x 10 points each) 50 points- Debates: (2x5 points each) 10 points- Attendance Quizzies (15x2points each) 30 points- Participation 10 pointsText: Porter, P. and E. Shepard. 1998. A World of Difference: Society, Nature, Development. New York: Guilford Press.- Two copies of this text will be on reserve in Norlin LibraryStudent Research Paper/Project: This will comprise five 4-6 page chapters devoted to the five course segmentsand a conclusion (total pages: 20-24 pages) For this project, each student will chose a case study country (and a specific focus topic if desired) and conduct research for their case related to the weekly topic. (The conclusion will be part of the last chapter.) The first four chapters will be due on a Monday (and the final section will be due on the last day of classes), during which students will meet with regional groups to debrief and prepare 5 minute group presentations to the entire class. This project will be graded by chapter and final product, and grading will be based on the content (quality and detail of the research); writing (clarity of writing and organization); and quality of critical thinking. Students will be expected to think as GEOGRAPHERS, to base their analyses on the theoretical and analytical frameworks covered in this course, and to clearly reflect their understandings of materialfrom readings and lectures. Because this is an upper division class, students will be expected to have mastered the skills of analytical writing in order to receive the highest grade on their papers. - Specific assignments for the student research project chapters will be posted below;o Chapter 1: Introduction to case study country (historical legacies and current snapshot) and data collectiono Chapter 2: Economic development o Chapter 3: Sustainable development/Environmental issues and rural developmento Chapter 4 Social Development o Chapter 5: Development governance at the state, regional, transnational, and international scalesand overall conclusions - Grading rubrics for this assignment will be posted here: Chap 1, Chap 2, Chap 3 chap 4 and Chap 5 - Research sources for this assignment can be found HERE.“Debates”: There will be two in-class exercises, (these are more like discussions, or even group arguments, thantraditional debates) which are designed to introduce students to two current and contentious topics of development: - The adoption of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) o NEWS FLASH: this is a key page with 3 important stories…check some of the docs linked here: GRAIN | GM FOOD AID: AFRICA DENIED CHOICE ONCE AGAIN?- AIDS in