OBJECTIVES:

  1. Define “development.”

  2. Define economic poverty using World Bank measures.

  3. Understand the history of modern development including: 1) the roles of Judeo-Christian culture, Enlightenment, nation-states, market system, geography (Diamond’s Guns Germs & Steel), and WWI, WWII, and the Cold War; 2) the transition from economic “Modernization Theory” (Rostow) to current theories.

  4. Contrast the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a means to understanding the structure they have provided in guiding modern development since 2000, particularly in regards to healthcare.

  5. Be familiar with important voices and arguments in modern development, including Amartya Sen (Development as freedom vs unfreedom), Jeffrey Sachs (Top-down approach), William Easterly (Grass-roots approach), Collier (Poverty traps and solutions) and World Bank’s Voices of the Poor landmark study.

  6. Describe key factors that contribute to poverty and key ideas for combating poverty and achieving sustainable development.

INSTRUCTIONS:  

OVERVIEW:  As a participant involved in international global health, it’s important to understand the concept and context of “development” in which healthcare workers and organizations participate, since ultimately, as this course emphasizes, health is contingent on social determinants from family income to political stability.. It is unwise to engage in international global health without being at least somewhat understanding of this larger world of development. This module is intended to help participants understand, at a “big picture” level, this larger world.

INSTRUCTIONS: WATCH the "Introduction to Development" video presentation.  Then READ assigned article about the SDGs.  Note taking is encouraged.  Then complete the module quiz and be prepared to discuss development if you have a live session scheduled for discussion.  This module should take around 1 hour to complete.  

  • WATCH: Overview of Development (20 minutes) (PDF of video PPT; reference as helpful)

  • READ: From Millenium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals

  • READ: Read a summary of some of the most important voices in modern development from Bryant Myers' book Walking with the Poor*. Please read pages 29-38 to learn about Amartya Sen’s foundational work (Sen also crafted the UN Human Development Index), the World Bank's Voices of the Poor study, the contrasting views of Jeffrey Sachs and William Easterly, and the additional contribution of Paul Collier. (The remaining pages, 39-44, are optional. The Module Extras section includes reading guides on the various voices, for those interested in learning more. Sachs and Easterly are specifically recommended, since their contrasting views represent the spectrum of ideas in development and the challenges to engaging in effective development work.) [*NOTE: Myers' work is from a Christian faith-based perspective/publisher; the selection has been edited to both shorten the reading and remove faith-specific sections. There may remain a few brief statements with faith-based language. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please let the course director know.]

  • DISCUSSION: If your course schedule includes a live session for Development Discussion, please come prepared with observations, passages/quotes, and/or questions about development, development voices, and the MDGs/SDGs.

  • MODULE QUIZ: Click here to take your module quiz to complete the module.

MODULE EXTRAS (OPTIONAL): 

  • Han Rosling's Global Development Stats: 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes

  • Short article that explores the grand question of “Why are some countries poor?” Is it culture? institutions/structural? just chance? (From The Economist, 9/5/2020)

  • Critique of the cost of the SDGs from NPR’s Goats and Soda (It's Up To The World: Pay For The Global Goals Or Buy Everyone A Latte)

  • Voices in Development - Deeper Dive: If you are interested in learning more about development, use this reading guide, and dive in to any of the selections from the books below:

  • “Disruptive Innovation” is the coined name for the approach endorsed by the Christenson Institute to achieve sustainable development by emphasizing prosperity creation using innovation over poverty alleviation. This is an article titled “Stop Building Toilets; Stop Building Schools; Stop Building Wells” that illustrates this perspective (by Efosa Ojomo, co-author of The Prosperity Paradox). (A broader summary of their argument is found here.)

  • Saturday Night Live Skit: "39 Cents" (Not all development efforts are equally effective, informed, or appropriate. This short SNL skit does a great job of including/mocking many facets of global health done foolishly and unethically over the past many decades. We can and must do better!)