UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA (UNISA)
College of Human Sciences
⋄
DVA3701: ASSIGNMENT 2
Semester 1, 2026
⋄
Module Code: DVA3701
Module Name: Development Theory
Assignment No.: Assignment 2
Due Date: 17 April 2026
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for DVA3701: Development Theory
at the University of South Africa.
, UNISA | DVA3701 Development Theory: North vs South
Introduction
Development theory sits at the intersection of politics, economics, and the long shadow of
colonialism. It does not simply describe how societies grow; it makes choices about what
counts as progress, who gets to define it, and whose knowledge is taken seriously in the
process. This essay critically examines the concept of development theory, traces how it
has shifted over time, and argues that despite its occasional gestures toward inclusion, the
dominant strands of development theory have historically served the interests of the global
North more than those of the global South.
The argument draws on Pieterse (2010), de Sousa Santos (2012), and Bull and Bøås (2012),
whose work collectively shows that development theory is not neutral. It carries the marks of
the context in which it was produced.
Page 1 of 12
College of Human Sciences
⋄
DVA3701: ASSIGNMENT 2
Semester 1, 2026
⋄
Module Code: DVA3701
Module Name: Development Theory
Assignment No.: Assignment 2
Due Date: 17 April 2026
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for DVA3701: Development Theory
at the University of South Africa.
, UNISA | DVA3701 Development Theory: North vs South
Introduction
Development theory sits at the intersection of politics, economics, and the long shadow of
colonialism. It does not simply describe how societies grow; it makes choices about what
counts as progress, who gets to define it, and whose knowledge is taken seriously in the
process. This essay critically examines the concept of development theory, traces how it
has shifted over time, and argues that despite its occasional gestures toward inclusion, the
dominant strands of development theory have historically served the interests of the global
North more than those of the global South.
The argument draws on Pieterse (2010), de Sousa Santos (2012), and Bull and Bøås (2012),
whose work collectively shows that development theory is not neutral. It carries the marks of
the context in which it was produced.
Page 1 of 12
