Aims

Knowledge: The objective of this course is to apply models and geographical concepts to the case of developing countries, to better understand processes of change in these countries.

Skills: An important skill to acquire in this course is the capacity to confront theoretical models of geography to actual situations. Given the diversity of situations in developing countries, the student must learn to distinguish what is general in the development pathways from what is specific to each place and to each historical and geographical context. Based on the understanding of interactions between development and the environment of a region, the student must be able to propose intervention guidelines to influence development pathways.

Main themes

Prerequisites:
Human geography courses

Lectures:
The course has three components:
1/ the presentation of concepts and geographical models;
2/ the participation of students in discussions in class, on the basis of readings given beforehand;
3/ An essay on a country of your choice, that analyzes the interactions between development and the natural environment in this country, on the basis of statistical analysis of data and making reference to the models and concepts discussed in class.

Lecture 1 :
A few models and concepts on the relations between development and environment
- the concept of sustainable development
- Model 1 : natural and man-made capital and development paths;
- Model 2 : I=PAT
- Model 3 : The environmental Kuznets curve
- Model 4 : Development model based on agriculture
- Model 5 : The tragedy of the commons

Lecture 2 :
Changes in farming systems in the tropics:
- The concept of farming systems;
- Classification of farming systems
- Development of commercialisation of agriculture.
- Concept of carrying capacity.
- Population pressure and agricultural intensification.
- Environmental problems and agricultural intensification
- Agricultural evolution and factors that slow the intensification
- Market growth and agricultural intensification
- Agricultural modernisation, ecological degradation.

Other credits in programs