Development Geography
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basic skills of the geography of development, with its theoretical and practical aspects, in order to stimulate a critical approach to the subject.
The specific objective of the first two modules is to introduce the basic development theories and strategies and their impact on the territory.
The specific objective of the third module is to provide students with theoretical and operational skills in development cooperation.
The specific objective of the first two modules is to introduce the basic development theories and strategies and their impact on the territory.
The specific objective of the third module is to provide students with theoretical and operational skills in development cooperation.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will have to know the basic development theories and understand the socio-territorial effects of different development strategies.
Finally, the student will have to be able to critically interpret development cooperation projects, identifying the actors involved, their aims and their strategies.
Finally, the student will have to be able to critically interpret development cooperation projects, identifying the actors involved, their aims and their strategies.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to provide students with the basic skills of the geography of development, with its theoretical and practical aspects, in order to stimulate a critical approach to the subject.
The first part of the course will present the basic concepts of the geography of development, its theoretical currents and some relevant contemporary issues.
Secondly, the lectures will analyze the different development strategies that have emerged over the last few decades, with particular attention to the right to food theme and policies acting on agricultural and food systems in the general context of major international issues (2030 Agenda).
The third part will focus on the topics of local development and international cooperation, in its theoretical and practical dimension. After a short introduction, the lectures will focus on the development cooperation policies and on the strategies of the main actors involved in the sector (international institutions, national governments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, private companies).
The first part of the course will present the basic concepts of the geography of development, its theoretical currents and some relevant contemporary issues.
Secondly, the lectures will analyze the different development strategies that have emerged over the last few decades, with particular attention to the right to food theme and policies acting on agricultural and food systems in the general context of major international issues (2030 Agenda).
The third part will focus on the topics of local development and international cooperation, in its theoretical and practical dimension. After a short introduction, the lectures will focus on the development cooperation policies and on the strategies of the main actors involved in the sector (international institutions, national governments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, private companies).
Prerequisites for admission
The course is aimed at students enrolled in the second year of Human Sciences of the Environment, Territory and Landscape (new and old system).
Knowledge of the basic concepts of human geography is required.
Knowledge of the basic concepts of human geography is required.
Teaching methods
The course combines theoretical analyses with practical examples of contemporary problems and development projects actually implemented. To this end, during the lectures various tools will be used (presentations, satellite images, maps, short videos, ...) that help understanding the complexity of the processes presented.
Some lectures will be specifically devoted to participatory teaching, classroom work and autonomous processing on technical documents related to the course topics.
The teacher intends to stimulate the active participation of students in the lessons to promote active learning and to encourage the emergence of a critical approach to the subject matter.
The materials (slides and documents for participatory teaching) will be made available through Ariel (the University's special portal for teaching sites).
Some lectures will be specifically devoted to participatory teaching, classroom work and autonomous processing on technical documents related to the course topics.
The teacher intends to stimulate the active participation of students in the lessons to promote active learning and to encourage the emergence of a critical approach to the subject matter.
The materials (slides and documents for participatory teaching) will be made available through Ariel (the University's special portal for teaching sites).
Teaching Resources
Attending students
First part
- Contents of the lectures
- Bignante E., Celata F., Vanolo A., Geografie dello sviluppo, UTET, Torino, 2022.
Second part
- Contents of the lectures
- One book of the following:
Moore J. W., Patel R., Una storia del mondo a buon mercato, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2018 (English version available).
Pettenati G., Toldo A., Il cibo tra azione locale e sistemi globali. Spunti per una geografia dello sviluppo, Franco Angeli, 2018.
McMichael Ph., Regimi alimentari e questioni agrarie, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino, 2016 (English version available).
Third part (only for 9cfu exam)
- Contents of the lectures
- Participation in working groups, study of documents and presentations in the classroom (participatory teaching)
Or:
- Contents of the lectures
- Bignante E., Bini V., Giunta I., Minoia P., Geografie critiche della cooperazione internazionale, Utet, Torino, 2024.
Recommendations for further information (not mandatory):
-Bevilacqua P., Il cibo e la terra. Agricoltura, ambiente e salute negli scenari del nuovo millennio, Donzelli Ed., Roma, 2018
-Magnaghi A., Marzocca O., Ecoterritorialismo, Firenze University Press, 2023, https://www.torrossa.com/it/resources/an/5568450#
Non-attending students:
First part
- Bignante E., Celata F., Vanolo A., Geografie dello sviluppo, UTET, Torino, 2022.
Second part
- Two books of the following:
Moore J. W., Patel R., Una storia del mondo a buon mercato, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2018 (English version available).
Pettenati G., Toldo A., Il cibo tra azione locale e sistemi globali. Spunti per una geografia dello sviluppo, Franco Angeli, 2018.
Bevilacqua P., Il cibo e la terra. Agricoltura, ambiente e salute negli scenari del nuovo millennio, Donzelli Ed., Roma, 2018
McMichael Ph., Regimi alimentari e questioni agrarie, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino, 2016 (English version available).
Third part (only for 9cfu exam)
- One book of the following:
Bignante E., Bini V., Giunta I., Minoia P., Geografie critiche della cooperazione internazionale, Utet, Torino, 2024.
Bini V., La cooperazione allo sviluppo in Africa: teorie, politiche, pratiche, Mimesis, Milano, 2016.
Duflo E., Banerjee A. V., L'economia dei poveri, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2012 (English version available)
Recommendations for further information (not mandatory):
- Chaturvedi S. et al., The Palgrave Handbook of Development Cooperation for Achieving the 2030 Agenda, Palgrave, 2021 (chapters 1,3, 5, 11, 16, 24, 31, 33)
-Magnaghi A., Marzocca O., Ecoterritorialismo, Firenze University Press, 2023, https://www.torrossa.com/it/resources/an/5568450#
First part
- Contents of the lectures
- Bignante E., Celata F., Vanolo A., Geografie dello sviluppo, UTET, Torino, 2022.
Second part
- Contents of the lectures
- One book of the following:
Moore J. W., Patel R., Una storia del mondo a buon mercato, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2018 (English version available).
Pettenati G., Toldo A., Il cibo tra azione locale e sistemi globali. Spunti per una geografia dello sviluppo, Franco Angeli, 2018.
McMichael Ph., Regimi alimentari e questioni agrarie, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino, 2016 (English version available).
Third part (only for 9cfu exam)
- Contents of the lectures
- Participation in working groups, study of documents and presentations in the classroom (participatory teaching)
Or:
- Contents of the lectures
- Bignante E., Bini V., Giunta I., Minoia P., Geografie critiche della cooperazione internazionale, Utet, Torino, 2024.
Recommendations for further information (not mandatory):
-Bevilacqua P., Il cibo e la terra. Agricoltura, ambiente e salute negli scenari del nuovo millennio, Donzelli Ed., Roma, 2018
-Magnaghi A., Marzocca O., Ecoterritorialismo, Firenze University Press, 2023, https://www.torrossa.com/it/resources/an/5568450#
Non-attending students:
First part
- Bignante E., Celata F., Vanolo A., Geografie dello sviluppo, UTET, Torino, 2022.
Second part
- Two books of the following:
Moore J. W., Patel R., Una storia del mondo a buon mercato, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2018 (English version available).
Pettenati G., Toldo A., Il cibo tra azione locale e sistemi globali. Spunti per una geografia dello sviluppo, Franco Angeli, 2018.
Bevilacqua P., Il cibo e la terra. Agricoltura, ambiente e salute negli scenari del nuovo millennio, Donzelli Ed., Roma, 2018
McMichael Ph., Regimi alimentari e questioni agrarie, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino, 2016 (English version available).
Third part (only for 9cfu exam)
- One book of the following:
Bignante E., Bini V., Giunta I., Minoia P., Geografie critiche della cooperazione internazionale, Utet, Torino, 2024.
Bini V., La cooperazione allo sviluppo in Africa: teorie, politiche, pratiche, Mimesis, Milano, 2016.
Duflo E., Banerjee A. V., L'economia dei poveri, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2012 (English version available)
Recommendations for further information (not mandatory):
- Chaturvedi S. et al., The Palgrave Handbook of Development Cooperation for Achieving the 2030 Agenda, Palgrave, 2021 (chapters 1,3, 5, 11, 16, 24, 31, 33)
-Magnaghi A., Marzocca O., Ecoterritorialismo, Firenze University Press, 2023, https://www.torrossa.com/it/resources/an/5568450#
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral exam aims to evaluate the knowledge of the program's topics, the clarity in the presentation of complex processes and the ability to critically interpret the topics presented (the evaluation of the exams is expressed out of thirty).
The course for attending students includes a section of classroom and autonomous work, of participatory teaching, that, if actively done, substitutes for part of the exam program.
The course for attending students includes a section of classroom and autonomous work, of participatory teaching, that, if actively done, substitutes for part of the exam program.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
M-GGR/01 - GEOGRAPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-GGR/01 - GEOGRAPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-GGR/01 - GEOGRAPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)