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Institute of Development Studies

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This article is about the institute in England. For the institute in Kolkata, India, see Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata.

Institute of Development Studies
TypeResearch institute
Established1966; 59 years ago (1966)
DirectorPeter Taylor
Location
Library Road, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex BN1 9RE United Kingdom
NicknameIDS
AffiliationsUniversity of Sussex
Websiteids.ac.uk
IDS at Sussex University

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is a research and learning organisation affiliated with the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, and based on its campus in Falmer, East Sussex. It delivers research and teaching in the area of development studies.

IDS was founded in 1966 by economist Dudley Seers who was director from 1967 until 1972. From 1972 to 1981 Sir Richard Jolly was the director of IDS.

Later directors included Mike Faber (1982–87), John Toye (1987 to 1997); Keith Bezanson (1997–2004); Lawrence Haddad (2004–2014) and Melissa Leach (2014-2023).

The current director of IDS is Professor Peter Taylor.

History

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The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) was established in 1966 at the University of Sussex by economist Dudley Seers, who served as its first director from 1967 to 1972.  The institute was founded to promote research, teaching, and communication on economic development, addressing global issues such as poverty, inequality, and social justice. [1]

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, IDS solidified its position as a leading institution in development studies. Notably, from 1972 to 1981, Sir Richard Jolly served as director. He later authored “A Short History of IDS: A Personal Reflection,” which details the institute’s contribution to development studies and evolution through time.[2] 

During 1980s and 1990s, IDS played a pivotal role in pioneering participatory development methodologies, emphasizing the importance of involving local communities in the development process. The institute’s research significantly influenced global development policies, particularly in areas concerning rural development, gender equality, and sustainable livelihoods.[3]

In the subsequent decades, IDS continued to expand its research and educational activities, adapting to emerging global challenges. The institute established various research clusters focusing on themes such as governance, health and nutrition, climate change, and digital development.[4]  Collaborations with international organizations, governments, and academic institutions have been central to IDS’s mission, enhancing its impact on global development discourse. Today, IDS remains at the forefront of development studies, committed to generating and sharing knowledge that fosters equitable and sustainable global development.[5]

Reputation

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The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) enjoys an internationally renowned reputation as a leading research and teaching institute dedicated to tackling global inequalities and fostering sustainable social, political, and economic development. In partnership with the University of Sussex, IDS has ranked first in the world for development studies every year since 2016, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject.[6]  

Structure and research

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IDS consists of ten research clusters or teams which concentrate their research on specific angles of development:

  • The Business, Markets and the State cluster examines how and under what conditions businesses and market systems enable or constrain pathways for positive development. Current research includes a Rising Powers programme focusing on the economic growth of the BRICS.[7]
  • The Cities cluster has a focus on the circumstances of poor and vulnerable people within cities and explores ways in which different forms of inequalities interact to produce both good and bad outcomes.[8]
  • The Digital and Technology cluster challenges prevailing technocratic views by highlighting inequalities that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may cause.[9]
  • The Governance cluster work on addressing the tensions between political liberalisation and globalisation, tensions between the politics of growth and the politics of equity the potential tensions and synergies between development concerns such as the anti-poverty agenda, and the gender-equity agenda and the environmental protection agenda.[10]
  • The Health and Nutrition cluster researches the political economy of health and nutrition, markets, regulation, diseases connected to malnutrition and how health systems respond to infectious diseases.[11]
  • The Knowledge, Impact and Policy team work on methodology rather than a defined issue, supporting programmes with monitoring frameworks, knowledge management and research communications.[12]
  • The Participation, Inclusion and Social Change cluster focuses on designing participatory research methods in international development and the social exclusion facing groups such as women and people with disabilities.[13]
  • The Power and Popular Politics team investigate political participation and contestation outside of institutions.[14]
  • The Resource Politics and Environmental Change cluster works on the consequences of climate change on politics, the economy and society are shaped by developmental issues.[15]

Funding

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IDS is a registered charity.[16] The top five funders of IDS are:[17]

With the University of Sussex, IDS offer a range of scholarship opportunities to help fund MA degree students.[18][19]

Teaching and post-graduate courses

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IDS has engaged in teaching since 1973 when the first MPhil course in development began.[20] Currently it teaches at postgraduate and doctorate level and has been awarded accreditation for its teaching programme by the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI).

IDS offers nine master's courses and two PhD degrees:[21]

  • MA Development Studies
  • MA Gender and Development
  • MA Globalisation, Business and Development
  • MA Governance, Development and Public Policy
  • MA Participation, Power and Social Change
  • MA Poverty and Development
  • MSc Climate Change, Development and Policy
  • MA Food and Development
  • MSc Sustainable Development (online)
  • PhD by research
  • PhD by published works

Notable academics

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Current academics

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Past academics

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  • Bob Baulch – worked for 13 years as a fellow at IDS for 13 years before joining Prosperity Initiatives in 2008.
  • Chris Colclough – a fellow (from 1975), and professorial fellow (from 1994)
  • Stephany Griffith-Jones – has contributed to research and policy suggestions on how to make the domestic and international financial system more stable so it can better serve the needs of inclusive economic development and the real economy.
  • Susan Joekes is noted for her part in the Women in Development approach.[citation needed]
  • Naila Kabeer is a professor of gender and development at the Gender Institute, London School of Economics.[28]
  • Simon Maxwell worked at IDS for 16 years and is now senior research associate at the Overseas Development Institute.[29]
  • Peter Newell is a professor at the University of Sussex, specialising in climate change. He is co-editor of the European Journal of International Relations, associate editor of the journal Global Environmental Politics and sits on the editorial board of Global Environmental Change, the Journal of Environment and Development and the Journal of Peasant Studies.[30]
  • Neil McCulloch – Previously a research fellow in IDS Globalisation team. An economist specialising in the analysis of poverty in developing countries and the linkages between poverty and both global and local economic reform. Has led research on the possibilities of the Tobin tax for development.[31]
  • Andrea Cornwall, political anthropologist who specialises in the anthropology of gender and sexuality, citizen participation and participatory research.
  • Mark Robinson – now the chief professional officer for governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian aid in the UK Department for International Development.[citation needed]
  • Hans Singer – known for Prebisch-Singer thesis, Bretton Woods
  • Chris Stevens is senior research associate at ODI concentrating on the impacts of Northern policies on the South.[32]
  • Robert Wade is professor of political economy at London School of Economics. Economist for the World Bank during the 1980s.[33]
  • Ronald Dore- Leading Japanologist and Sociologist
  • Ben Ramalingam, author of Aid on the Edge of Chaos

Notable alumni

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  • Carlos Alvarado Quesada, 48th President of Costa Rica - MA Development Studies 2009
  • Shantanu Gupta, Author and Political Analyst, MA Governance, Development and Public Policy 2009[34][35][36]
  • Joanna Kerr, Chief Executive of Greenpeace Canada - MA Gender and Development 1991
  • Edwin Irizarry Mora, Puerto Rican pro-independence leader - PhD/DPhil Development Studies 1989
  • Robina P. Marks, South African High Commissioner to Sri Lanka[37] - MA Gender and Development 1999
  • Salim Mvurya, Kenyan politician - Power Participation and Social Change 2011
  • Nancy Okail, Egyptian scholar and activist - Doctor of Philosophy 2009
  • Naana Otoo-Oyortey, social activist and women's rights defender - Mphil Development 1993
  • Melanie Robinson, Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe - MA Governance and Development 2012
  • Colette Solomon, South African policy researcher, women's rights activist and the director of the non-governmental organisation Women on Farms Project - PhD 2003
  • Isatou Touray, Vice President of The Gambia - PhD/DPhil Development Studies 2004
  • Euclid Tsakalotos, Greek Minister of Finance - Mphil Development 1984
  • Marta Zabaleta, Argentinian political refugee - PhD/DPhil Development Studies 1979

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "A Short History of IDS: A Personal Reflection". Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  2. ^ "A Short History of IDS: A Personal Reflection". Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Impact". Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Clusters". Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Vision & strategy". Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  6. ^ "IDS and Sussex ranked first for development studies for ninth year running". Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Business, Markets and the State". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Cities". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Digital and Technology". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Governance". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Health and Nutrition". www.ids.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Knowledge, Impact and Policy". www.ids.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Participation, Inclusion and Social Change". www.ids.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Power and Popular Politics". www.ids.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Resource Politics and Environmental Change". www.ids.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  16. ^ registered charity
  17. ^ "Governance and funding". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Fees and funding". Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  19. ^ Institute of Development Studies (Brighton) (1 May 2013). "Africa: IDS to Host Alumni Event to Mark the Launch of a New Scholarship Fund". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  20. ^ Jolly, Richard (28 January 2008). "A Short History of IDS: A Personal Reflection". IDS Discussion Paper (388). Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  21. ^ "University of Sussex, Institute of Development Studies Masters Degrees". Findamasters.com. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  22. ^ Colom, Anna (4 April 2013). "How to … avoid pitfalls in participatory development | Global Development Professionals Network". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  23. ^ Scoones, Ian; Blasio Mavedzenge (8 November 2010). "Don't condemn Zimbabwe". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  24. ^ Devereux, Stephen (3 April 1994). Theories of Famine. Harvester Wheatsheaf. ISBN 9780133022179. Retrieved 21 August 2016 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "Philip Proudfoot | Research Fellow". Institute of Development Studies.
  26. ^ "Martin Griffiths". Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  27. ^ "Bio -- Hilary Wainwright".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Naila Kabeer". IGC. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Simon Maxwell – Overseas Development Institute (ODI)". Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  30. ^ Prof. Peter Newell, University of Sussex.
  31. ^ McCulloch, Neil (14 June 2011). "It's time to take the Tobin tax seriously | Global development". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  32. ^ "Chris Stevens – Overseas Development Institute (ODI)". Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  33. ^ "Profile – Experts – Research and expertise – Home". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Gupta, Shantanu". SAGE India. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Shantanu Gupta - Times of India". The Times of India. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Mr. Shantanu Gupta". Hindu University of America. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  37. ^ "New Ambassadors & High Commissioners hand over credentials – President's Media Division". President's Media Division. 14 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
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