Identity and Development

Catalog description

A principal concern of many development theorists and practitioners today is the need to recognize differences. That means, fundamentally, respecting differences in identity and how one’s identity or identities, such as gender, ethnicity, family structure, national origin, political affiliation, race, and religion, play out in daily practice. The first section of the course provides historical and theoretical context for current discussions of identity as they relate to, affect and shape current international development theory and practice. The second section of the course examines cross-cutting issues where identity concerns intersect, with an emphasis on current trends and challenges, such as migration, violence, and urban change.