This book expands understandings of how skills are defined, acquired, and utilized in Global South contexts. 'Skills' and 'skill development' are increasingly prominent focal points for governments in the Global South and international development bodies. Yet, policymakers and practitioners promoting skill development often overlook the everyday realities of how skills are learned and acquired, and how they are deployed and valued by individuals and communities. Frequently, they ignore the social and institutional barriers that prevent people from using their skills in meaningful or remunerative ways.
By focusing on the 'the social life of skills', the chapters in this volume invite a broader conceptualization of skills, their development, and their application in Global South contexts. They explore four main areas of theorization and practice:
1. The social and political processes by which certain types of work - and people - are labeled as 'skilled' or 'unskilled.'
2. The different ways people acquire skills: formal, informal, and nonformal.
3. The political economy of skills and skill development and their imbrication in forms of exploitation and intersecting inequalities.
4. The role of skills in the expression of aspirations, identities, and agency.
This book will appeal to students and researchers in the fields of development studies, sociology, anthropology, education, and labor studies, particularly those focusing on the Global South. It will also appeal to policymakers, practitioners, and development organizations working on skill development and vocational training.
The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Third World Quarterly.
| ISBN: | 9781041022558 |
| Publication date: | 23rd June 2025 |
| Author: | Trent Brown, Geert de Neve |
| Publisher: | Routledge an imprint of Taylor & Francis |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 230 pages |
| Series: | Thirdworlds |
| Genres: |
Political economy Social discrimination and social justice Sociology: work and labour Anthropology Regional / International studies Development studies Education Politics and government |
This book expands understandings of how skills are defined, acquired, and utilized in Global South contexts. 'Skills' and 'skill development' are increasingly prominent focal points for governments in the Global South and international development bodies. Yet, policymakers and practitioners promoting skill development often overlook the everyday realities of how skills are learned and acquired, and how they are deployed and valued by individuals and communities. Frequently, they ignore the social and institutional barriers that prevent people from using their skills in meaningful or remunerative ways.
By focusing on the 'the social life of skills', the chapters in this volume invite a broader conceptualization of skills, their development, and their application in Global South contexts. They explore four main areas of theorization and practice:
1. The social and political processes by which certain types of work - and people - are labeled as 'skilled' or 'unskilled.'
2. The different ways people acquire skills: formal, informal, and nonformal.
3. The political economy of skills and skill development and their imbrication in forms of exploitation and intersecting inequalities.
4. The role of skills in the expression of aspirations, identities, and agency.
This book will appeal to students and researchers in the fields of development studies, sociology, anthropology, education, and labor studies, particularly those focusing on the Global South. It will also appeal to policymakers, practitioners, and development organizations working on skill development and vocational training.
The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Third World Quarterly.
The Social Life of Skills in the Global South features in the following genres: Political economy, Social discrimination and social justice, Sociology: work and labour, Anthropology, Regional / International studies, Development studies, Education, Politics and government
The Social Life of Skills in the Global South is available in Hardback
The Social Life of Skills in the Global South was written by Trent Brown, Geert de Neve and published by Routledge an imprint of Taylor & Francis
The Social Life of Skills in the Global South has 230 pages
Yes it is part of Thirdworlds series
£154.79