Block 1 introduces the module themes of crisis, complexity, and change, and explains how they can be used to better understand global development. You’ll learn how events such as the resurgence of China and the growing urgency of the ‘climate crisis’ are calling into question established ways of thinking about and practising development. By focusing on debt, you’ll explore how historical and contemporary dynamics shape processes of development across scales, from within the household to the international level. You’ll start building skills to investigate global development, and you’ll apply these to understanding more about an aspect of debt that interests you.
Block 2 examines ideas of crisis, which are increasingly used to frame development challenges. You’ll consider why this is happening, what it tells us about the different actors and interests that shape development, and who benefits and who loses out as a result. You’ll explore three key development issues often framed as crises: migration, conflict, and climate change. You’ll look at how different forms of media, including news reporting and social media, shape how such issues are understood and can be used as sources for investigating development.
Block 3 employs the idea of ‘complexity’ to consider why development challenges are difficult to resolve. Processes of development do not occur in predictable, linear ways and are not easily controlled. When development interventions ignore complexity, they often fail to achieve their goals and can produce harmful unintended consequences. However, the block outlines ways to work with complexity to better pursue positive change. You’ll develop skills in using grey literature to investigate complex development challenges related to humanitarian emergencies, energy provision, and sustainable livelihoods.
Block 4 explores ideas of ‘change’, which are central to most definitions of development. You’ll consider debates about what kind of change is desirable, how change happens, and how we know about and measure change. The block explores important contemporary issues in development scholarship and practice, including: geopolitical change and the growing power of China; how we know whether development interventions have worked; and the relationship between technological innovation and social change. You’ll use academic sources and different types of qualitative and quantitative evidence to investigate how these issues are implicated in processes of transformation.
In Block 5, you’ll consolidate and build on the independent exploration you have conducted throughout the module. For the end-of-module assessment, you’ll apply your investigation skills to understanding an issue of your choice.
Studying this module provides the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills of relevance to careers in the development sector and a wide range of related fields concerned with addressing challenges linked to poverty, inequality and sustainability, such as: public service organisations and government; international organisations; the media; civil society organisations; politics; and the private sector.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
You’ll be provided with two printed module books and have access to the module website, which includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
D329 is a compulsory module in our:
D329 is an option module in our:
Investigating global development: crisis, complexity, change starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2037.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
This is an OU level 3 module. OU level 3 modules build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from previous studies at OU levels 1 and 2. They are intended for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject.
The OU level 2 module, Introducing global development: poverty, inequality, sustainability (D229), would be a useful prior module.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please contact an adviser.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying D329 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
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If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
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