SUM4032 – Development and Sustainability in Contemporary Asia: Connections, Contradictions and Change
Course content
The resurgence of Asia represents the most significant global shift in the capitalist world economy during the past 50 years. China and India are now consolidating their positions as global powers, "disrupting" the global economic and political order once dominated by the West. At the same time, a number of other Asian countries are experiencing rapid economic growth and emerging as important players in regional and global markets, politics and foreign aid. Yet the Asian development success stories are marred by contradictions, with high-consuming middle classes rapidly expanding alongside persistent and growing socio-economic inequalities, dislocations and environmental degradation. New connections within Asia, and between Asian countries and other regions, represent economic growth and technological upgrading, but also the cementation of new hierarchies and dependencies. Understanding development in contemporary Asia is therefore increasingly crucial to our broader understanding of global capitalism.
This course interrogates development processes in contemporary Asia, examining the interplay between global political-economic and environmental forces; state policies; and the politics and practices of everyday life.
Learning outcome
- Thorough knowledge of contemporary Asian development and its global ramifications
- The ability to employ relevant theories to analyze new spatial connections across scales in Asia and beyond
- In-depth understanding of some of the contradictions of capitalist development through analyzing global trends combined with case studies from select Asian countries
Admission to the course
You may apply to be a guest student at SUM. Please follow these instructions.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
A bachelor’s degree.
Recommended previous knowledge
Specialization equivalent to at least 80 ECTS within subjects from the humanities or social sciences, sustainable development, or equivalent relevant subjects.?
Teaching
Attendance in lectures and seminars is mandatory, and active participation in class is both expected and encouraged. You must have an attendance of 80% to be eligible to take the exam.?
Examination
2024: 3 days home exam,
2023: Term paper
2020 - 2022: 3 days home exam.
2021: Assessment guide
2020: Assessment guide
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.