At its most simplest, development studies is a social science which examines issues related to social and economic development.

Through development studies, we seek to bring a critical perspective to applied real world problems, and the policies, programmes and practices behind these. Historically, the focus was on poorer countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America but development studies now extends to development issues worldwide. We particularly aim to understand the interconnections between global, regional, national and local processes of change.

Because change requires inter-connected solutions, development studies brings together diverse disciplines. With roots in anthropology, economics, sociology, politics and geography, it may also combine with others such as psychology, law, management, natural science, history, agriculture or engineering.

Development research aims to build partnerships between the people most directly affected by social, economic, technological and environmental change, and academics, policy-makers and practitioners. Equitable collaboration between those based in the global South and global North is particularly important. Working in partnership leads to more insightful and creative theory and more sustainable and equitable practice.

Some of the ways the DSA is being part of the movement to modernise development studies include:

• Our Politics and Political Economy study group hosted a conference on development studies, with a resulting paper entitled: What’s wrong with development studies and how can we change it.
• DSA member Andy Sumner of King’s College London wrote the paper What is Development Studies?
• through our DSA study group on Decolonising Development Studies
• offering free DSA membership to those researchers, practitioners and students living in and from the global South
• having a global South and decolonising development studies representative at the DSA council to ensure diversity in all DSA decision making