James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

AN5006 - Asia Pacific Development: Culture and Globalisation

Subject Description

This subject critically explores the notion and phenomenon of 'development' in Asia-Pacific contexts through an anthropological lens. Practices, problems and processes in social or community-based development and planned culture change raise central anthropological questions about power, identity and agency. The subject will provide students with an understanding of how anthropological approaches inform the study of meanings and concepts associated with modernity and the priorities, policies and practices of development agencies. The subject considers globalisation and transnationalism, international NGO networks, and such issues such as the politics of development knowledge, natural resource development, environment and bio-technology, poverty, labour and the global economy, gender, health and human rights. The subject includes practical workshops on research methods used in development anthropology.

Learning Outcomes

• understand complex meanings and concepts associated with the relationship between human development outcomes and the politics, policies and practices of development agencies
• acquire the ability to critically and professionally evaluate case studies from the Asia-Pacific region concerning development issues and community engagement
• identify and critically engage at an advanced level with key contemporary theoretical and ideological issues concerning development
• enhance existing skills in report writing and public presentation of material relevant to country specific development issues
• acquire the ability to assess the social and cultural impacts of policies and processes associated with globalisation and natural resource development

Subject Assessment

• Oral > Presentation 1 - (15%) - Individual
• Participation > Class participation - (10%) - Individual
• Written > Essay (including multi-draft) 1 - (50%) - Individual
• Written > Essay (including multi-draft) 2 - (25%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Assumed Knowledge:  To be able to enrol for this subject students shall have qualified in this or another University for a Bachelor or Bachelor with Honours degree or its equivalent; or shall have qualified in this University for a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant area and have a minimum of at least 5 years academic and professional experience in a cognate discipline; or shall have qualifications recognised by the faculty as equivalent to requirements above.

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  AN3006

Availabilities