RUSSIC
RUSSIC is a multidisciplinary research and teaching unit within the Faculty of Humanities, Curtin University.
RUSSIC examines processes of social and cultural transformation associated with global economic change to better understand the full dimensions of development and underdevelopment. The Unit, while maintaining an emphasis on development related issues, seeks to broaden its approach to these issues by incorporating some of the newer perspectives to the study of changing societies. It recognises for example that processes of globalisation are making the earlier tripartite division of the world less tenable, and seeks to draw out theoretical and practice implications for the study of societies in change.
Members of RUSSIC come from many disciplinary backgrounds, including anthropology, Asian studies, geography, politics, political economy, health science and urban and regional planning.
Combining these backgrounds, we have created a distinctive approach to development issues by:
- conducting fieldwork in local communities;
- using new perspectives on economic development;
- developing an interdisciplinary focus;
- giving priority to social and cultural forms;
- acknowledging the interrelationship between local and global forces;
- seeking to promote equitable forms of development.