DEVELOPMENT STUDIES ENTERING A CUL-DE-SAC? REFLECTIONS ON DEVELOPMENT STUDIES AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE: A HISTORICAL APPRAISAL

Abstract

The “fate of development studies” in the context of the dominant thinking ondevelopment as propagated by development theorists was one of the main themeshighlighted in the 5th International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC5).1 Indeed, theMSC5 convenors evoke the call for a reflection on the implications for and the future ofdevelopment studies in Malaysia. Reflection on the fate and future of developmentstudies in Malaysia requires us, in particular, to understand how development studies hasbeen understood as an academic discipline and implemented by institutions of higherlearning. This article undertakes to do a historical appraisal of development studies as anacademic discipline under the guidance of the following questions: (i) How developmentstudies emerge as a (serious) academic discipline in institutions of higher learning; (ii)How these institutions of higher learning define “development” and “developmentstudies”; and (iii) What are their objectives/rationale, methodology and scope? Throughthis historical appraisal, this article hopes to configurate a model of development studiesthat incorporates not only the substantive components (interdisciplinary subject matter)but also the praxis component (‘doing’ development through for example, immersion andadvocacy) in order to make development studies a socially responsible and relevant fieldin development process and planning.