Development Studies with Reference to Emerging Economies MPhil/PhD at Kings College London

Overview

The Department of International Development (DID) at King's has a different agenda to traditional development studies in the UK and wider afield.  It specifically focuses on 'emerging economies,' both to explore the sources of their success as well as understand the major development challenges they continue to face. These fast growing and changing societies raise new questions about the global economy, national development and promoting sustainable and equitable growth.

 Research at the department seeks to explore critical perspectives on economic growth, modernisation and ‘progress’ and to do so by exploring context-specific economic, social and political change in these countries rather than applying prescriptive models of development.

We have three research groups:

• Poverty, Inequality & Inclusive Growth
• Social Justice
• Political Economy & Institutions

Research expertise spans political science, sociology, social anthropology, development economics, history, geography and management. We have strong regional expertise and collaborations in Latin America and SE Asia, in China and India. The African Leadership Centre hosted by DID brings unique connections with the African continent and offers a separate programme in Leadership Studies with reference to Security and Development. 

Description

A growing number of middle-income countries challenge conventional understandings of development. Much is to be learned from the experiences of the processes of change in these different nations, societies, and economies. Staff expertise includes political science, development economics, political economy, sociology, anthropology, management studies and development studies. Our supervisors accept original projects that explore how development processes occur in different ways and at different scales and levels, from global to local to familial.

The work of our doctoral students seeks to understand theoretical, empirical or methodological gaps in their chosen area.  Under the guidance of their supervisor each student is encouraged to acquire disciplinary training relevant to their research question, but also to develop an enquiring appreciation of what other disciplines may bring to their field of study. 

Course study environment

The Department is located on the Stand Campus right in the heart of London, next door to Somerset House and the Courtauld Institute of Art. The Maughan Library is situated a short walk away close to the Royal Courts of Justice, while both the British Library and Senate House Library are a short walk away.