In Fall 2023, I had the opportunity to teach a mid-level undergraduate course, “Poverty and Global Development” in International Studies at UW-Madison, that introduces students to key factors that shape the uneven distribution of wealth in the world, including the role of global financial institutions, international development interventions, different aid regimes, neoliberal economic policies, urbanization, and global environmental change. Please find below a brief description and the the syllabus for the course.

Course Description
International institutions such as the United Nations and World Bank have long aspired to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment across the world. Recent events suggest that this goal could soon be achieved with “extreme poverty” decreasing by more than 50% between 2000 and 2015, driven by rapid economic growth in developing countries, like China, India, South Africa, and Brazil, among others. However, during the same time, the gap between the “haves” and “have nots” has increased exponentially such that the top 1% owns almost half of the world’s wealth today. Is it possible to eradicate poverty while living in a world where the distribution of wealth, resources, and opportunities is so skewed? What are some of the key drivers of economic inequality and uneven development? These are the key questions we will be addressing in the course. We will start by understanding the ways in which the global economy is structured due to which it (re)produces poverty and inequality at the global scale. Here, we will analyze the role of governments, development agencies, and non-governmental organizations around the world and how “development” is understood, practiced, and contested by these actors. We will then explore ways in which poor communities in the Global South encounter and navigate poverty and inequality in their everyday lives. Finally, we will analyze alternative ways of conceptualizing the “economy” for a more just and equitable world.