North-South relations and global perspectives

The course is given both as a stand-alone course and within a program. The course is a compulsory course on Social Analysis Program in Economic History and Human Geography (S1SAP), Social science environmental science program (S1SMI) for those who choose a specialization in cultural geography within the framework of their program studies. The course is a continuation course in human geography and is compulsory for the degree.

Access to the course requires at least 22.5 ECTS credits in human geography, geography, social geography or equivalent.

The course deals with questions about what development is as well as differences in it development experiences between different countries, between city and countryside, and between different social groups in the Global South. The focus is on people livelihood situations in different local contexts, although the local must also be understood against the background of global, regional and national processes, as well as relations between actors on different scales. Concepts such as development, gender and "livelihoods" problematized.

The course begins by focusing on different perspectives on development and how these perspectives is connected with the development policy and the policies pursued by various actors in the development process. Then follows a section that addresses living conditions in it Global South with a focus on different resources that people have access to in different contexts. The course ends with some themes that highlight aspects that can lead to change processes, also actor perspectives are highlighted.

Knowledge and understanding

1. Explain different perspectives on development, and different driving forces that work together and shapes development processes in the Global South.

2. Account for the resources, actors and structures that are most central to shaping the conditions for people's livelihood and sustainable living conditions in the Global South.

Skills and Abilities

3. Demonstrate ability to search, collect and critically interpret relevant information regarding access and utilization of resources for countries' development processes in the Global South.

4. Show ability to exemplify different connections between spatial conditions and development processes in the Global South and various driving forces that work together in the shaping of these development processes.

Evaluation skills and approach

5. Critically reflect on and evaluate how different perspectives on development affect strategies for sustainable social development in the Global South.

The course consists of lectures, discussion seminars, a group assignment and a examination seminar for the same. The scheduled moments are a further support the work of reading in the literature and in the learning process.

The course is examined with a written submission in two parts. Partly a group task and partly an individual task. The course also includes two mandatory seminars.

The student who does not submit written reports within the prescribed time or not attends mandatory sessions must complete supplementary tasks to become passed on the course.

If a student who has failed twice on the same examination part wishes to change by the examiner before the next examination session, such request should be submitted in writing to the institution and must be approved if there are no special reasons to the contrary (HF ch. 6 § 22).

If the student has received a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg regarding special pedagogical support can examiner, in case it is compatible with the objectives of the course and provided that it is not unreasonable resources are required, decide to give the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, the student must be guaranteed at least three examination occasions (including ordinary examination occasion) during a period of at least one year, but at most two years after the course ended/changed. What refers to internships and business-based training apply correspondingly, but with limitations to only one further examination occasion.

The course is given one of the grades Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E) and Fail (F). In order to obtain a passing grade (A-E) on the course, a passing result is required on all examination component, as well as attendance at a mandatory seminar. The grade on the course as a whole is determined by the result of the written exam and is put in relation to established grading scale

Course evaluation is carried out at the end of the course. The result and any changes in the course scheme must be communicated both to the students who carried out the assessment and to those students who will start the course.

The course uses a virtual learning platform for digital communication (Canvas) between teachers and course participants. Access to a computer and internet is therefore required. The course may not be included in the degree together with the course KGG210 or GE2120