GEO3125 : Critical history, participatory theory and practice in the Caribbean (Inactive)

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module will analyse the Societies of the Caribbean with a particular emphasis upon the everyday practices of development planning initiatives. Drawing upon detailed case studies at local, national and international levels, students will receive grounded knowledge of the everyday lives of those involved in such processes. In particular, they will examine how those living in the post-colonial countries of the Caribbean develop their voice and sense of self through being involved in participatory planning and institutional development.

Outline Of Syllabus

The twelve (2 hr) lectures supplemented by complementary seminars are as follows:-
1 Caribbean Societies: an overview of history, culture and geography
2 Caribbean Societies: development and governance
3 Postcolonial geographies
4 Postcolonial geographies: Caribbean perspectives
5 Tourism: the politics of enjoyment
6 Race and Development: violence and segregation
7 Caribbean Institutions: questions of culture, inventiveness and the sea
8 Summations and Conclusions to Part I of module
9 Development Planning: the participatory turn
10 Participatory Planning in the Caribbean: speaking without voice
11 Participatory Planning in the Caribbean: space, time and the political
12 Summations and Conclusions to Part II of module

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture122:0024:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching121:0012:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1164:00164:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The dominant teaching method is the comprehensive, well-illustrated and up-to-date lecture, heavily backed by detailed case studies that examine the critical histories and contemporary everyday lives of those involved in Caribbean development. This delivers a distinctly grounded perspective of development in practice.
The course is also focused around small group seminars which directly related to the lecture given that week, allowing students to receive high levels of direct support from the module leader and teaching assistant. The seminar sessions are explicitly focused upon the two essays of the module, with the module leader and teaching assistant helping students to self-reflectively tease out key arguments for these essays. These small seminar sessions will therefore allow students to develop a number of skills, including: constructing a coherent argument out of complex ideas and critical analysis. The seminars will also encourage students to debate between themselves about the role of different groups in Caribbean development (thereby further assisting the development of arguments in the student’s essays). For students considering a higher degree when they finish, this module also introduces critical reflection up the conceptual arguments associated with the meaning of critical history, participatory theory and practice as these relate to post-colonial and development studies.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2M501800 word essay
Essay2M501800 word essay
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Given that the module places particular emphasis upon the everyday practices of Caribbean development, the student will be encouraged to research case studies in detail. These will be fully explored in their 2 essay assignments. Drawing upon detailed case studies of how development plays out in practice at local, national and international levels, these essays will demonstrate detailed knowledge of the lives of those involved in the development of Caribbean Societies. Particular emphasis will also be placed upon constructing a coherent narrative in essays with strong, running arguments being developed throughout.

RESIT: Unseen Exam 3hrs 4 questions

Reading Lists

Timetable