How might the lessons of history inform our choices in the present? Does a rules-based world order risk concealing informed discussions, potentially blurring the line between assumptions and reality? 
 
In a world shadowed by its history, Professor Gilbert Achcar from SOAS Development Studies urges us to transcend the rhetoric and slogans of blame when examining contemporary issues - from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine to the tense Taiwan standoff with China, and the evolving power dynamics between the US, Russia and China in between. Instead Achcar’s analysis of the present political tensions challenged us to transcend the ‘black and white debate’, and unravel the nuances of policy decisions taken at critical junctions, dynamics present in the global structure, and the psychological dimensions shaping this social fabric. By offering us a manual crafted by past lessons, Achcar’s “New Cold War” is a call to take inspiration from how existing institutions like the UN were forged and wield this knowledge to navigate the complex political landscape for a more sustainable path. Achcar’s hopefulness resonates throughout, taking a firm belief that another world was and still is possible.

#5. The New Cold War: The United States, Russia and China, from Kosovo to Ukraine

Surbhi Kesar, lecturer at SOAS Department of Economics, in conversation with Sara Stevano, provides a comprehensive analysis of the informal economy, challenging traditional economic development theories by demonstrating how postcolonial economies persistently reproduce informal economic structures. 
 
Her research, primarily focused on India, reveals a complex landscape of economic flux characterised by precarity, limited upward mobility, and systemic exclusion. 
 
By examining the historical and contemporary dynamics of informality, Kesar argues that current economic growth models fail to address the fundamental structural challenges faced by workers in the Global South. Her work highlights the need to understand informality not as a temporary phase, but as a critical component of contemporary capitalist reproduction.

#6. Informal Economy: New Approaches

Why so much interest in China-Africa links?
23rd October 2015

The interest in China's engagement with Africa has grown fast in the past 10 years. This reflects both real trends in trade, investment and labour flows, but also a clash of perceptions about their potential impact on the development prospects of African economies and societies. This seminar tackled the basis for these different views and how empirically-grounded work often challenges well-established perceptions about China-Africa relations.
Speaker: Dr. Carlos Oya
Moderator: Raffaello Cantucci
Find out moe about this event at http://www.soas.ac.uk/cas/events/23oct2015-why-so-much-interest-in-china-africa-links.html 


Why so much interest in China-Africa links?

UTSC - Critical Development Studies - Interview Tania Li

This talk titled "Lessons learned – and not learned – from overseas deployments" was given by Iain King, CBE (DfID Conflict Research Unit) on 22 October 2014 as part of the Professional Practice Seminar Series at the Department of Development Studies, SOAS University of London. 

You can find out more about this event at https://goo.gl/wQNs2A

Lessons learned – and not learned – from overseas deployments

This talk titled "20 years in Fairtrade – a Personal Reflection" was given by Sandy Balfour on 26 November 2014 at the Department of Development Studies, SOAS University of London
You can find out more about this event at https://goo.gl/V7r0fa

20 years in Fairtrade – a Personal Reflection

Professor Richard Heeks spoke as part of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission lecture series. The event was entitled Information and Communication Technologies (ICTS) for Development.

Richard Heeks is Professor of Development Informatics in the Global Development Institute, at The University of Manchester. He is Director of the Centre for Development Informatics, which is also based at The University of Manchester.

01/08/2017

Lecture: Richard Heeks on from ICT4D to digital development

Robert Huish is an associate professor at Dalhousie University in the department of International Development Studies. Leading one of the key note speeches at the Youth Activism and Social Justice Conference, Dr. Huish discusses his evolving thinking on teaching activism in the classroom and bringing it into the community. Included in this recording are reflections from the previous day of discussions and speeches, beginning with the voice of Dr. John Gaventa, current director of the Coady International Institute. 

Bob Huish YAC discussion

Listen to an excerpt from the new audiobook for ‘The Development Trap’ by Adam D. Kiš, now available from all good audiobook retailers including Google Play, Amazon Audible and iTunes.

To learn more about our Audiobooks programme, visit our website: www.routledge.com/collections/16228

The Development Trap Audiobook Sample

This episode we speak with Jasmine-Kim Westendorf, author of the new book Violating Peace: Sex, Aid, and Peacekeeping -
https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501748059/violating-peace/

Jasmine-Kim Westendorf is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at La Trobe University, Australia, and a Research Associate at the Developmental Leadership Program. She is author of Why Peace Processes Fail. Follow her on Twitter @jasminekimw.

We spoke to Jasmine-Kim about the consolidated data that she has collected in her book showing that sexual exploitation and abuse has happened in every peace operation and every peacebuilding process that the international community has been involved in, and that it continues to happen to this day. This ongoing sexual misconduct has significant and long-term impacts on the capacity and credibility of the international community involved in peacekeeping, and Jasmine-Kim’s new book offers concrete policy suggestions that more effectively address this phenomenon in future peace operations.

1869, Ep. 95 with Jasmine-Kim Westendorf, author of Violating Peace

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