Fuller Online
Fall 2009
Myers/Penner
MD525: Poverty and Development (4 units)
Bryant Myers, Professor of International Development
Online Facilitation by Nathan Penner, Adjunct Instructor in Transformational Development
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 with 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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon the successful completion of the course, students will:
1. Be able to articulate and critically apply biblical and holistic understanding of poverty in broad Christian perspective
2. Describe and critically assess some of the current theories of development
3. Articulate and critically apply a biblical and holistic understanding of transformational development
4. Gain an introductory knowledge of development principles and practice
COURSE FORMAT:
Conducted online, the ten weekly lessons align with FullerÕs academic calendar. The course involves reading, writing, research, and weekly interactive discussion with other students and the instructor.
REQUIRED READING: (1300 pages) If students 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.
á Chambers, Robert. Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last. Intermediate Technology Publications (UK), 1997 (Chapters. 1, 6-7)
á Christian, Jayakumar, God of the Empty-Handed: Poverty, Power and the Kingdom of God. MARC (Monrovia) 1999. (Electronic copy on CD available, with permission from publisher, in the bookstore.)
á Freidman, John, Empowerment: The Politics of Alternative Development. Blackwell, 1992
á Hiebert, Paul, et al., Understanding Folk Religion. Baker Books, 1999 (Chapters 1-4)
á Moser, Caroline, and Andy Norton, ÒTo Claim Our Rights: Livelihood Security, Food Security and Sustainable Development,Ó Overseas Development Institute, 2001 (Available through ODI website www.odi.org.uk)
á Myers, Bryant, Walking With the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. Orbis (NY) 1999
á Narayan, Deepa, et al., Voices of the Poor: Crying Out for Change. Oxford University Press, 2000 (Chapters. 1-2)
á Sen, Amartya, Development as Freedom. Knopf 1999. (Introduction and chapters 1-4)
á Centesimus Annus (Click on Encyclicals at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/)
á Populorum Progressio http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html
á Redemptoris Missio. (Click on Encyclicals at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/)
á All articles in the Course Reader supplied in the online class
RECOMMENDED READING:
á Banerjee, Abhit; Benabou, Roland; and Mookherjee, Dilip. Understanding Poverty. Oxford, U.K.: 2006
á Chambers, Robert. Ideas for Development. London: Earthscan, 2005
á Friere, Paulo and Barr, Robert (tr.), Pedagogy of Hope: Reliving Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Continuum Publishing Co (NY), 1994
á Guttierrez, Gustavo. The Power of the Poor in History. Orbis Books (NY) 1983
á Korten, David C. Getting Toward the 21st Century: Voluntary Action and Global Agenda. Kumarian Press, 1990
á Linthicum, Robert C. Empowering the Poor: Community Organizing among the City's 'Rag, Tag and Bob Tail.' Monrovia, MARC (Monrovia) 1991
á Mosse, David. Cultivating Development: An Ethnography of Aid Policy and Practice. London: Pluto Press, 2005
á Peet, Richard. Theories of Development. New York: Guilford Press 1999
á Additional reading of any the unassigned chapters in Chambers, Hiebert, Narayan and Sen.
USEFUL WEBSITES:
á Christian Community Development Association (USA): www.urbanministry.org/ccda
á Center for Global Development (USA): www.cgdev.org
á Institute for Development Studies (UK): www.ids.ac.uk
á Institute for Sustainable Development (Canada): www.iisd.org
á PovertyNet (World Bank): www.worldbank.org/poverty
á INTRAC (UK): www.intrac.org
ASSIGNMENTS
1. A written 3-5 page critical assessment paper using course materials and course reading covered in the first five weeks of the course
2. Students, in groups of 4-6, will summarize and critique a selected organizationÕs explicit and implicit understandings of poverty and development. Each student will write a 3-5 page paper on an organization as well as critically assessing his or her colleaguesÕ evaluations.
3. 12 to 15-page research paper on a topic related to the course, agreed to by the professor.
PREREQUISITE: None
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective; MA in Global Leadership Ministry Focus Study elective course.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None