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Social & Political Issues in Development - SPY00143M

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Credit value: 15 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2025-26
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

This module introduces the key themes and concepts within the field of international development, highlighting their evolution up to the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and exploring the impact of actors and organisations on development discourse and practice.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Online Teaching Period 1 2025-26

Module aims

The module explores the history, politics and debates that surround the theory and practice of international development. The module is in three parts: first, it explores how development theory and practice has evolved since the Second World War to the present day, examining the principle historical approaches and their critiques. Second, the module examines the institutional architecture of international development, exploring the key actors and organisations that influence and drive development discourse and practice and the socio-political context in which they work at the global and national levels. Finally, the module explores the concept of ‘sustainability’ through the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to: 

  • demonstrate critical understanding of the evolution of development discourse and practice over the twentieth century to the present day

  • understand the complex relationship between development actors, and appreciate the global political context in which they work

  • analyse the key frameworks used to measure, define and analyse complex development problems

  • apply theoretical concepts around development to an appropriate case study

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Assignment - York Online Programmes 100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

None

Module feedback

Feedback on summative assessments will be provided within 20 working days, consisting of written comments and a marking matrix.

Indicative reading

Desai, R. (2017) ‘Theories of Development’ in Haslam, P. et al. (eds), Introduction to International Development: Approaches, Actors, Issues and Practice (Third Edition), Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 43-64.

McGillivray, M. (2016) ‘What is Development?’ in Kingsbury, D. et al. (eds), International Development: Issues and Challenges (Third Edition), London: Palgrave, pp. 21-49.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.