DS 120: Contemporary Development Issues in Developing
Countries
1.3.1 Rationale
The course seeks to identify some of the main contemporary development
issues in developing countries. It is essential in providing students with an
understanding of the link between these contemporary development
issues and the development process of developing countries like Zambia.
1.3.2 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be expected to;
● Evaluate the major contemporary development issues in developing
countries
● Analyse the implications of contemporary issues on the
development process of developing countries.
1.3.3 Course Content
Unit 1: Introduction
● Defining development
● Evolution of the concept of development
● Understanding the concept of contemporary development
issues
Unit 2: Globalisation and Development
● Understanding globalisation
● Drivers
● Forms of globalisation
● Theories of globalisation
● Implications of globalisation on development
Unit 3: Entrepreneurship and Development
Definitions
Classifications of Entrepreneurs
Features of Entrepreneurs
The Business Environment
Entrepreneurship and Development
Unit 4: Sustainable Development
● Definition
● Historical perspective of sustainable development
● Objectives of sustainable development
● Dimensions of sustainable development
● Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Unit 5: International Migration and Development
● Definition of concepts
● Causes of international Migration
● Implications of international migration
● Strategies for managing international migration
Unit 6: Conflict and Development
● Definition
● Types of Conflict
● Causes of Conflict
● Consequences of conflict
● Resolution and prevention of conflict
Unit 7: Corruption and Development
● Definition
● Forms of corruption
● Causes of corruption
● Impacts of corruption
● Advantages of Corruption; Myth or Reality?
Unit 8: Inequality and Development
● Defining inequality
● Types of inequality
● Measuring inequality
● Impacts of inequality on development
Unit 9: Social Justice and Development
● Defining Social justice
● Pillars of Social justice
● Forms of social justice
● Why social justice is important to development
Unit 10: Culture and Development
Culture
Basic characteristics of culture
Mass culture and Elite Culture
Global cultural and cultural imperialism
Why culture Matters to development
Unit 11: Institutions and Development
● The concept of institutions
● Types of institutions
● The role of institutions in development
Unit 12: Human Rights, Social Movements and Development
● The concept of Human rights
● Types of human rights
● Human rights and social movements
● Human rights approach to development
Unit 13: Youth and Development
● Understanding the concept “youth”
● Challenges faced by the youth
● Youth participation in development
Unit 14: Human Security and Development
● Understanding human security
● Main features of human security
● Types of human security
● Threats to human security
● Strategies for addressing human insecurities
● The importance of human security to development
Unit 15: Health and Development
● Definition of main concepts
● The role of health in development
● The gender gap in health
● The disease burdens
● Health, productivity and policy
Unit 16: Education and Development
● Definition of main concepts
● The role of education in development
● The gender gap in education
● Educational systems and development
● The knowledge society and development
1.3.4 Assessment
● Continuous Assessment 40%
● Final Exams 60%
1.3.5 Prescribed Readings
1. Todaro M. P., and Smith S.C. (2012). Economic Development. New
York: Pearson Education
2. Cypher, J and Dietz, J.C. (2004). The Process of Economic
Development. London: Routledge
1.3.6 Recommended Readings
1. Department for International Development (DFID). (2010). Youth
Participation in Development. A guide for Development Agencies
and Policy Makers. London
2. Ghai, Y. (2001). Human Rights and Social Development. Toward
Democratization and social Justice. Democracy, Governance and
Human Rights Programme Paper Number 5. United Nations
Research Institute for Social Development
3. Hafner-Burton, E. (2013). Making Human Rights a Reality. Princeton,
NJ: Princeton University Press.
4. Schech S. and Haggis J. (2000). Culture and development. Oxford:
Blackwell publishers ltd
5. United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security. (2009). Human
Security in Theory and Practice. New York: United Nations
6. Spinelli, S. (2016). New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st
Century (10th edition). Richard D. Irwin, Inc.
7. Scarborough N. and. Cornwall, J. (2016). Essentials of Entrepreneurship
and Small Business Management Pearson Education Limited: Essex
