International Development Studies: Home

Welcome to the International Development Studies Subject Guide

International Development Studies at Trent is an interdisciplinary program that studies human inequality in global perspective. Taking a comparative approach, it examines the sources and consequences of such inequality, looking at economic, cultural, political, historical, gender, environmental and social dimensions. We pay particular attention to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations, especially those of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, regions increasingly known as the ‘Global South’, and their complex relations with the most powerful regions, groups and international organizations. As Canada’s first IDS program, it remains in the forefront with its coherent curriculum and dedicated faculty. (Source: Program Website)

Your IDST research assignment requires you to find statistics, articles and books on development in two countries.

For statistical information, see the sources listed under the "Statistical Data" tab (above).

For articles, see the sources listed under the "Articles" tab (above).

• We have a tutorial on How to Find Articles.

For books use the Library catalogue.  We have print and online books listed in the catalogue.

• Start with a broad keyword search for your country and "economic" (or "health", or whatever your topic is). 
  • Example: ghana and economic
  • Keep it broad and simple - this is the Library Catalogue, not Google.  Books cover broad topics.
• Look carefully through the results to see what you get. 
• Click on the "Catalogue Record" tab to see details about a book - a list of chapters or subject covered.
• E-Books are more likely to appear at the top of your list because they're newer. 
  • Click on the link to access the book. 
  • Some e-books are restricted to a single user, so you may have to try again later to use it.
• Print (hard-copy) books are on the shelves under their call number.
  • Your books are likely in the HC section - on the 3rd Floor.  (But they could be in other locations, too.)
• See our tutorial on how to use the Library Catalogue.