SOAS Development Studies Department

23:06

25 March 2025 Sara Stevano , senior lecturer at SOAS Department of Economics, in conversation with Surbhi Kesar , explores the concept of social reproduction as a critical lens for understanding economic activities, particularly in the Global South. Sara Stevano argues that social reproduction encompasses all work necessary to maintain life, including paid and unpaid labor, care work, and social rituals. Drawing on her research in Mozambique, she demonstrates how traditional economic analyses fail to capture the complex realities of work and survival in peripheral economies. The discussion highlights the importance of recognising social reproduction as a fundamental aspect of economic processes, not just a peripheral consideration. Ultimately, the episode calls for a feminist political economy approach that centers the everyday experiences of workers in understanding economic development. Find out more about global development at SOAS: · Website · LinkedIn · X · Bluesky · Newsletter…

SOAS DevTraC Podcast Series

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#6. Informal Economy: New Approaches 27:04

15 weeks之前27:04

27:04

Surbhi Kesar , lecturer at SOAS Department of Economics, in conversation with Sara Stevano , provides a comprehensive analysis of the informal economy, challenging traditional economic development theories by demonstrating how postcolonial economies persistently reproduce informal economic structures. Her research, primarily focused on India, reveals a complex landscape of economic flux characterised by precarity, limited upward mobility, and systemic exclusion. By examining the historical and contemporary dynamics of informality, Kesar argues that current economic growth models fail to address the fundamental structural challenges faced by workers in the Global South. Her work highlights the need to understand informality not as a temporary phase, but as a critical component of contemporary capitalist reproduction. Find out more about global development at SOAS: · Website · LinkedIn · X · Bluesky · Newsletter…

SOAS DevTraC Podcast Series

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#1. UN-ESCWA’s World Development Challenges Report Launch Podcast 38:09

1 year之前38:09

38:09

28 February 2023 This episode features a conversation between Professor Carlos Oya from SOAS, and Khalid Abu-Ismail, Senior Economist at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and lead report author of “World Development Challenges Report: Development from a broader lens”. The report launch was hosted by SOAS DevTraC on October 2022 at SOAS. This discussion captures insights shared by the lead author and stimulates debate about the report and its use. Find out more about global development at SOAS: · Website · LinkedIn · X · Bluesky · Newsletter…

SOAS DevTraC Podcast Series

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#2. Afghanistan in Archives: Nationalism, identity and the State 38:27

1 year之前38:27

38:27

5 Avril 2023 "Afghanistan in Archives" is the first of a two-part episode, a group of SOAS scholars, Florence Shahabi , Zeynep Tuba Sungur, Barry Sadid, and Bismellah Alizada , examine the role of archives in shaping nationalism, identity and the state, both in the past and present. They explore the prospects of using archives to preserve the Afghan identity and humanise local discourses surrounding the state. This podcast is an invaluable addition to the ongoing debate on the preservation of memories and cultural heritage for stateless and scattered diasporas, a critical issue for an increasing number of nation-states plagued by political instability, with memories often inaccessible to researchers. Find out more about global development at SOAS: · Website · LinkedIn · X · Bluesky · Newsletter…

SOAS DevTraC Podcast Series

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#3. From Home to Unknown: The harsh reality of the Afghan migration crisis 36:05

1 year之前36:05

36:05

19 May 2023 The latest conversation in the DevTraC Podcast Series is part two of the Afghan podcast where Bismellah Alizada , Reza Hussaini, Rabia Khan , and Zarifa Hosseini discuss the struggles encountered by Afghan migrants seeking a new home, both as individuals and as a group on the move. Through personal anecdotes and insightful analysis, the group investigates the impact of language on inter-group relations and how it adds to the 'us' versus 'them' mentality in political discourse. This harsh reality has the potential to hinder migrants' prospects for a "better life" and upward mobility. The ultimate goal of this discussion is to advance a more inclusive and cooperative social order, grounded in ideas rooted in equal civility and shared citizenship, both in the UK and internationally. Find out more about global development at SOAS: · Website · LinkedIn · X · Bluesky · Newsletter…

SOAS DevTraC Podcast Series

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#4. The Question of "The Blue Commons": Christopher Cramer in conversation with Guy Standing 1:00:39

1 year之前1:00:39

1:00:39

30 June 2023 Guy Standing , Professorial Research Associate in Development Studies at SOAS discusses his latest book, “The Blue Commons: Rescuing the Economy of the Sea” with Chris Cramer , Professor at SOAS, highlighting the role of corporates in prioritising profits over planet, and de-commoning our seas. Find out more about global development at SOAS: · Website · LinkedIn · X · Bluesky · Newsletter…

SOAS DevTraC Podcast Series

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#5. The New Cold War: The United States, Russia and China, from Kosovo to Ukraine 52:23

1 year之前52:23