Review and evaluation of the major theoretical approaches to the sociological and economic study of development. Among the topics to be covered are the differences between rich and poor nations, the role of women in the international division of labor, and the impact of dictatorships and democracies over the past two decades. Considers such issues as the role of multinational corporations, world debt and global pressures on the environment. Examines the characteristics of technological change and its impact on the competitive advantage of nations such as the United States. The philosophy of science and the craft of social research.
Students design and begin to carry out their own research projects.
Each student specializes in one or two methods of data collection and analysis. Theorists range from the foundational work of Marx, Durkheim and Weber, to the more recent work of Parsons, Goffman and a number of critical and post-structuralist authors. This course is highly recommended for students who intend to do graduate work in the social sciences. A survey of past and present theoretical approaches within anthropology. Central questions and characteristic methodology of each approach are examined.