Poverty,WellBeing,Socl Exclusn

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Most countries in Latin America have realized very important progress in terms of economic growth and development in recent years. At the same time the region is confronted with the persistent challenges of poverty, inequality and social exclusion. In particular specific groups, including indigenous peoples, single-parent households or marginalized youth continue to be among the poorest and most excluded throughout the region. This course analyzes the political economy of persistent poverty, inequality and social exclusion in Latin America as key impediments for human development. A special emphasis will be placed on discussing different approaches to international development and human development, including Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, Human Well-being, the Livelihoods Approach and the Rights-Based Approach. The course aims to provide students with the necessary theoretical and practical background to better understand the underlying causes of persistent poverty and social exclusion throughout Latin America. It will enable the students to study different approaches and concrete cases studies on how to improve the well-being and human development of marginalized groups in an environment of rapid economic and social change within the region. The course is divided into three parts: Part I: Theories of poverty, human development, well-being and social exclusion Part II: Key Issues of marginalized groups with an emphasis on indigenous peoples development, and III: Practical case studies of international development.