-----Original Message-----
From: CASID - Canadian Association for the Study of International
Development [mailto:CASID@LISTS.MCGILL.CA] On Behalf Of Wilder Robles
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 8:13 PM
To: CASID@LISTS.MCGILL.CA
Subject: Intro to IDS Textbook Project

Hi folks:
The purpose of this message is to ask for
suggestions and potential participation in
designing or structuring a formal proposal to
write an Introduction to International
Development textbook for Canadian students.
Ananya, myself and Paul Bowles have been
discussing this idea for some time and now we
have decided to move ahead with the project. The
main idea is to develop a text with a global
perspective with direct and substantive
participation by scholars from the South at every
stage of the project. We will seek to use
learning technologies and multimedia format to
maximize the involvement of southern scholars. In
addition to Canadian students, we would also like
to make the book useful for students in the
South. For this to happen we need to
conceptualize the book in an innovative manner,
but also to think of formats which would be both
affordable and useful. For instance, the
discourse/area of study of "development" as we
know it here, may not have the same resonance in
the developing world. This itself may be a
problem Canadian students need to grasp better.
How are the so-called "development issues" viewed
and discussed in the global south? What kind of
solutions are being considered? Are they the same
as those in the "developed² world? Where are the
gaps? The current popular intro to IDS textbooks,
mostly written in the States or Europe, do not
explore these questions. Nor are they
particularly suited to our Canadian context.

Further, there is now and increasing consensus
that "Development Studies" is a field that must
not only give students "academic" knowledge, but
must also commit itself to producing active and
engaged citizens for the contemporary world. A
core text book can play a critical role in this
endeavor. Thus, in addition to knowledge about
theories and approaches, the proposed text book
will aim to provide students with a complex
understanding of the full range of institutions
and actors involved in development, their roles,
and the various structural and cultural
contradictions within which they act. This will
help students reflect on, and became aware of
their own potential roles and locations and
engage effectively as citizens and/or professionals in "development".

Thus, we are asking for your feedback on this
project. We hope to count on your active participation.

A progressive foundation, which I have been
working with over the last four years, has
expressed some interest in partially funding this
project. I, Ananya and Paul will also be working
on extra funding at home and abroad.

Please feel free to send us your feedback

Cheers,

Wilder Robles, CASID 2006 Conference Chair
-----------------------------------------
Assistant Professor, International Development Studies
Menno Simons College, The University of Winnipeg
Suite 210, 520 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0G2
Phone: (204) 953-3852
Fax: (204) 783-3699
E-mail: wilder.robles@gmail.com

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Nearby Wed Feb 8 15:03:56 2006