SOAS Department of Development Studies

25/03/2026

📌Thinking about applying for an online degree at SOAS University of London?

Join our online briefing this Friday to learn more about our programmes, the application process, and what to expect from studying with SOAS. It’s also a great opportunity to ask questions and explore how our courses can support your goals.

🗓 Friday, 27 March
⏰ 1:00–2:00 pm GMT
🔗 Register here to get the meeting link:

Be among the first to explore our online programmes designed for globally‑minded learners who want flexibility and academic excellence.

18/03/2026

🩸 Sinners isn’t just a vampire movie. It explores supremacy, cultural appropriation, and resistance.

Zoe Marriage (SOAS Development Studies Department) and Pauliana de Sousa connect the film’s themes to Black cultural expression, capoeira, and racial politics across the Americas.

➡️ Read the full blog: https://shorturl.at/v37Vr
➡️ Watch the breakdown (TikTok): https://shorturl.at/9lhUT

10/03/2026

📌Reimagining Development: Bold Directions Towards a Thriving World

What would development look like if we reimagined it from the ground up?

Join us at SOAS University of London for a book talk with co-author Peter Sutoris (University of Leeds), exploring new ways of thinking about global development in a time of climate crisis, deepening inequality, and rapid global change.

We are also delighted to welcome Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou (ODI) as discussant for a dynamic conversation, chaired by Naomi Hossain (SOAS).

📅 19 March 2026
🕔 5pm
📍 Wolfson Lecture Theatre, SOAS + Zoom

🎟️ Register here:

What if development were imagined differently? Join Peter Sutoris as he explores bold alternatives, from degrowth to Indigenous knowledge, based on his book co-authored with Uma Pradhan, envisioning more just and ethical futures.

10/03/2026

📌Life after SOAS: Alumni in Progressive Politics and Policy-Making
Curious how a SOAS education can shape a career in politics and policy? Join us for an inspiring conversation with alumni making real-world impact!

Speakers: Eva Cruzeiro, Mariana Mortagua, Borja Monreal Gainza
Chair: Carlos Oya, Head of Development Studies, SOAS University of London

🗓️ 16 March 2026 | 6pm – 8pm
SOAS, KLT | Drinks reception to follow
Register & Info: shorturl.at/8LfGa

SOAS Development Studies - Young 'n' Old

21/01/2026

The SOAS Global Development Seminar Series is Back!

Join us for a great lineup of speakers and talks designed to inspire and spark conversations on global development.

Register here: https://shorturl.at/An9HU (scroll down for seminar details)

21/01/2026

We are pleased to share this new article by Fola Aina in The Conversation US UK. Focusing on the , it shows how climate mitigation efforts that overlook governance and conflict dynamics can unintentionally deepen existing tensions.

A timely contribution to debates on climate action, fragility, and sustainable peace, based on research funded by , , and the .

Read full article here➡️: https://shorturl.at/LVlGw

19/01/2026

New policy brief by our colleague Fola Aina, unpacking how climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' in the Sahel rather than a direct cause of conflict. Drawing on rich fieldwork, it offers grounded recommendations for integrating climate, governance, and security responses in fragile contexts.
Highly recommended read. Well done, Fola!

Read the policy brief here ➡️: https://shorturl.at/P8e0x

08/01/2026

Why do online scam hubs in Myanmar keep bouncing back, despite raids and arrests? Years of fieldwork show how borders, checkpoints, and local power dynamics shape where scams move, and why crackdowns alone aren’t enough. Read Xu Peng, SOAS Researcher, in The Conversation U.S.

"Huge online scam operations are flourishing in war-torn Myanmar – I travelled there to find out why":

Read full article here: https://theconversation.com/huge-online-scam-operations-are-flourishing-in-war-torn-myanmar-i-travelled-there-to-find-out-why-271701

SOAS Development Studies - Young 'n' Old SOAS Development Studies and UBEL DTP Seminar Series 2019-2020

08/12/2025

“The great hydropower dilemma: Can large and mega dams deliver a just energy transition?”

In her latest Foundation for Water Research (FWR) Analysis article, our colleague Giuseppina Siciliano examines the social and environmental implications of large and megadams used for hydroelectric power. As the global drive toward net zero accelerates, renewable energy must take centre stage, and hydropower will play a vital role. This raises a crucial question: how can the transition be delivered in ways that are just and equitable for the communities most affected by these projects?

Read the full analysis here ➡️: https://fwr.org/the-great-hydropower-dilemma-can-large-and-mega-dams-deliver-a-just-energy-transition/

SOAS University of London

04/12/2025

𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲

How can youth voices shape mental health policies and practices? This case study, published today by the The Journal of Community Systems for Health, shares experiences and lessons from an advocacy initiative in the Philippines.

PRO-Health, a civil society health rights initiative, collaborated with the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines and G-Watch (Government Watch) to organize young people to advocate for a youth-led and youth-centered mental health agenda.

Authors Joy Aceron, Ken Paolo Gilo and Victoria Maglanque show how young people can lead mental health advocacy, focusing on the kind of evidence that can be generated, and the importance of multi-level and multi-sectoral linkages in youth organizing for accountability.

Congratulations to all the authors!



https://journals.ub.umu.se/index.php/jcsh/article/view/1285

04/12/2025

A much-needed analysis from our colleague Fola Aina and John Sunday Ojo from Universiteit Leiden / Leiden University. This publication adds fresh perspective to ongoing debates on peacekeeping, interregional security cooperation, and Africa’s evolving strategic landscape. Well done on a significant contribution!

Read full open access article here: https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19392206.2025.2587547?src=