Introduction to Development in the Canadian Context

Course Code: BUS 5012

Academic Year: 2025-2026

In this course, students will have the opportunity to learn a variety of approaches to economic, social and political development and the interconnections between development and humanitarian relief. They will learn to consider the richness and complexity of development and of its connections with relief by the use of a broad perspective that includes market, government, social, economic and environmental processes. They will develop their analytical and critical thinking skills as they work. They will learn to evaluate different models of development by considering case studies throughout the semester. Communication skills will be enhanced via oral presentations of case studies. Knowledge about policies aimed at economic and political development in an international organization's setting will be enhanced through the course work. Students will also develop an initial understanding of the format and structure of international organizations' project documents aimed at economic, social and political development. We also explore three broad dimensions: government (public) international development policy, private sector (corporate) development interventions and the intersections with government trade policy, civil society, non-government organizations' (NGO) conceptions of development and critiques of official policy. Second, development initiatives are experienced differently by developers (Canadians) and the targets of development (people in the developing world). Students will examine how development is experienced and understood by the developed world - those with the power, money and skills to do development - and the marginalized - those who are typically the objects of development. Third, students will examine how development can be very local and how developing societies have never been homogenous.