SD5035 Capitalism, Development and Environment

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Must be taking a Masters Level Programme

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr K J Fredricks

Dr K J Fredricks
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Kathryn Fredricks, Dr Ale Bossalem, Dr Jessica Hope

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The study of the relations between capitalism, development and environment is of central significance to the project of sustainable development. The module considers histories, theories and practices of development. Emphasis is placed on: (a) the ways in which environments, resources and livelihoods both shape and are shaped by practices of development; (b) how ideas of development (as progress, growth, sustainability, and so on) are deeply interwoven with the nature and history of capitalism; (c) how and from where one distinguishes between and evaluates 'negative' (harmful, or unsustainable) and 'positive' (beneficial, or sustainable) development and the place of 'environment' in such appraisals and (d) why it is important to examine the workings of capitalism, development and environment in a variety of global, regional and local contexts.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1 hr lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 2 hr seminar (x 10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

264

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • to gain familiarity with key texts on the subjects of capitalism, development, and the environment
  • to develop critical understandings of a range of concepts pertinent to the study of sustainable development
  • to critically appraise historical and contemporary concepts of development and how these concepts are mobilised in processes of capitalist accumulation and colonialism
  • to understand how concepts of development contribute to the production and reproduction of racial, gender, and colonial violence and injustice
  • to consider how discourses of development are contested in ways that seek to bring about decolonised futures.