From slavery to banking, from the Virginia Company of the 1600s to sovereign wealth funds of the 21st century, for nearly half a millennium the fates of countries have been intertwined with the fortunes of companies. At various times and places, companies have aided, hindered, bankrolled, or crippled the people on whose lands they operate. The company, perhaps more than any other institution, has shaped the world as we know it today.

This unit charts the role of corporations in the development of nation-states from the time of the Atlantic slave trade to the present day. It equips students with the knowledge and skills required to interrogate the way in which companies have come to shape notions of modernity in development contexts, assess the impact of the rise of corporations on communities, and challenge a raft of prevalent assumptions around the role of private capital in the pursuit of development strategies and goals.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Assess the legal, economic, and political impact of the company in developmental contexts, especially with under-privileged communities;
2. Determine how companies have moulded the way modernity and development are understood in the present;
3. Develop an understanding of the place of companies within contemporary development theories; and
4. Question the role of companies and the private sector in the development of nations and communities, particularly in the Global South.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Skills development

From slavery to banking, from the Virginia Company of the 1600s to sovereign wealth funds of the 21st century, for nearly half a millennium the fates of countries have been intertwined with the fortunes of companies. At various times and places, companies have aided, hindered, bankrolled, or crippled the people on whose lands they operate. The company, perhaps more than any other institution, has shaped the world as we know it today. This unit charts the role of corporations in the development of nation-states from the time of the Atlantic slave trade to the present day. It equips students with the knowledge and skills required to interrogate the way in which companies have come to shape notions of modernity in development contexts, assess the impact of the rise of corporations on communities, and challenge a raft of prevalent assumptions around the role of private capital in the pursuit of development strategies and goals.

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

Familiarity with basic concepts in International Development.