Three Doors into Development

How the world assesses and explains the lives of poor people in poor places, conveys these understandings to itself and others, and seeks to respond (if at all) varies enormously with the forms of knowledge invoked. In this course we will enter the global development space through three different epistemological ‘doors’ – scholarship (articles, books); policy reports (from international organizations); and popular culture (novels, films, plays, music, poetry, dance) – to consider what is similar, different, unique or complementary about their respective insights. By extension, we will also explore new ways in which poor and marginalized communities, especially those with high levels of illiteracy and/or trauma, might more meaningfully convey their experiences and priorities to those overseeing potential policy responses.



Michael Woolcock has worked for 28 years in the World Bank's Development Research Group, alongside 20 part-time years at Harvard Kennedy School. In these combined roles he has sought to connect research, policy, practice, and teaching, especially as it pertains to the distinctive roles played by social institutions in shaping (and being shaped by) the development process.