MD525/625: Transformational Development (4 units)

Dr. Bryant Myers, Professor of Transformational Development

Winter 2007 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

This course explores the challenges of empowering the poor in a world marked by marginalization, disempowerment, abuse, and injustice. Poverty is explored from a number of perspectives, concluding a biblical framework. Responses to poverty are then explored, including the goals of transformational development and the process and principles by which it is pursued. Topics to be covered include the following—worldview issues that influence our understanding of social development; a biblical framework for transformational development; understanding poverty biblically; overview of contemporary development theory; Catholic social thinking on development; rights-based development and livelihood/food security; the development practitioner; and Christian witness through transformational development.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Gain a biblical and holistic understanding of both poverty and transformational development
• Understand the current theories of development
• Ability to think critically about implied understandings of poverty and development

COURSE FORMAT: Course will meet once weekly for 3-hour sessions. Course will use a presentation and discussion format with occasional use of small groups.

REQUIRED READING: (1300 pages) If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Myers, Bryant, Walking With the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Orbis (NY) 1999.
Christian, Jayakumar, God of the Empty-Handed: Poverty, Power and the Kingdom of God. MARC (Monrovia) 1999.
Freidman, John, Empowerment: The Politics of Alternative Development. Blackwell.
Moser, Caroline, and Andy Norton, “To Claim Our Rights: Livelihood Security, Food Security and Sustainable Development,” Overseas Development Institute, 2001 (Available through ODI website www.odi.org.uk ).
Centesimus annus (Click on Encyclicals at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/).
Progressio Popularum (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html).
Redemptoris Missio. (Click on Encyclicals at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/).
UN Millennium Development Project 2005, Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Overview. UNDP, 2005.
Articles in the Course Reader.
Chambers, Robert, Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last. Intermediate Technology Publications (UK), 1997. (Chs. 3-4).
Hiebert, Paul, et al., Understanding Folk Religion. Baker Books 1999. (Chs. 1-4).
Narayan, Deepa, et al., Voices of the Poor: Crying Out for Change. Oxford University Press, 2000. (Chs. 1-2).
Sen, Amartya, Development as Freedom. Knopf 1999. (Introduction and chs. 1-4).

RECOMMENDED READING:

1. Barr, Robert (tr.), Pedagogy of Hope: Reliving Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Continuum Publishing Co (NY), 1994.
2. Guttierrez, Gustavo. The Power of the Poor in History. Orbis Books (NY) 1983.
3. Korten, David C. Getting Toward the 21st Century: Voluntary Action and Global Agenda. Kumarian Press, 1990.
4. Linthicum, Robert C. Empowering the Poor: Community Organizing among the City's 'Rag, Tag and Bob Tail. Monrovia, MARC (Monrovia) 1991.
5. Additional reading of any the unassigned chapters in Chambers, Hiebert, and Narayan.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. In teams of 4-6, students will do a presentation and lead a discussion afterwards (total one-hour), which summarizes and critiques the explicit and implicit 1) understanding of poverty and 2) theory of development of a major development organization based on the materials on its website. Assigned from among Tear Fund, Action Aid, Plan International, Oxfam, and United Nations Development Program.
2. A 3000 to 3750-word paper on a topic related to the course and agreed to by the professor. Grade is determined equally by quality of research, connections with course materials and quality of writing.

Th.M. Students will complete an additional assignment: 1250-word paper describing a substantive addition to or criticism of the lecture material on a theology of transformational development. Topic to be agreed to by professor. Grading is equally determined by quality of research, connections to course materials and quality of writing.

PREREQUISITE: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

Last edited: October 3, 2006