Development, Culture and Conflict

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Total of 170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The end of the Cold War and the announcement of the "New World Order" created a rapidly transforming terrain for the practice of development, humanitarian intervention and aid. Cultural, ethnic and religious conflict is a feature of many of the situations in which development agencies and workers find themselves. Complex emergencies characterized by extensive violence, displacements of people and the need for multi-faceted humanitarian intervention have become increasingly numerous and intractable. This subject examines the new context for development in the light of debates about the "clash of civilizations", the end of history, the failure of secularism, the "coming anarchy" and the rising prominence of fundamentalisms. The relationship between culture and development will also be explored in some depth. Case studies and illustrative material from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and other regions will be an important component of the subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have an understanding of the contemporary cultural, ethnic and religious factors in global conflicts;
• have familiarity with the notion of complex emergencies and their manifestations in Africa, Middle East and South Asia;
• have the ability to make sophisticated analysis of the contemporary terrain of development and to present that in the form of written and verbal accounts.

A seminar presentation (10%) during semester, a 1 ,000 word essay (20%) due mid semester, and a 3,500 word essay (70%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully compltete this class will:

• be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the key concepts;
• gain critical analysis skills;
• gain research skills;
• be able to work independently as well as a member of a team;
• be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.