SOAS hosts major development studies conference
Global development research was highlighted in the recent annual Development Studies Association (DSA) conference hosted at SOAS University of London on the theme of Social Justice and Development in a Polarising World.
The conference was the largest DSA annual conference to date, welcoming over 500 leading international experts to discuss development issues impacting the world today.
Mike Jennings, SOAS Professor of Global Development and conference convenor, said:
“Social justice is becoming an increasingly important focus of development studies, and our colleagues are leading research and debates in this area. Being able to set the theme for the conference was a great opportunity for us to highlight the critical work we are doing in this area.”
SOAS Professor Shirin Rai gave a keynote lecture on the human cost of caring analysing the physical and mental impact of care work, defined as depletion, and how this can extend well beyond the individual, to households and communities. Professor Rai’s new book on this issue, Depletion: the Human Cost of Caring has just been published by Oxford University Press.
Professor Naomi Hossain spoke about changing ideas of Bangladeshiness as the country defined by its development challenges moves out of poverty. Her keynote speech drew on a book-in-progress to discuss dehumanizing imagery, Bangladesh’s contemporary art scene, its ‘bare life’ past of disasters and famine, and Bangla-futurism.
SOAS academics led a number of innovative and well-attended panel sessions and workshops over the three days. The global garment industry was in focus with SOAS’s Dr Alessandra Mezzadri leading a four-session panel showcasing research on the politics of the global fashion shop floor by scholars from 17 universities. Dr Mezzadri presented her work on industrial disputes in the Indian garment industry, informed by her study with the International Labour Organization, examining grievances in the sector.
Digital employment was explored in a panel session with Dr Matteo Rizzo looking at the emergence of the gig economy and its impact on workers’ struggles for social justice. Dr Althea Maria-Rivas co-convened an experimental workshop on the realities of race in development studies for researchers of African descent. A new comparative framework for studying ‘narco frontiers’ was presented by Professor Jonathan Goodhand in his panel on drugs, frontier capitalism and illicit peasantries.
The full conference programme and information can be found on the DSA website.The DSA is the UK based membership association for people studying, researching and teaching global development.
More information about the departments of Development Studies and Economics at SOAS.
