DSA2026 – Reimagining Development: Power, Agency, and Futures in an Uncertain World

Hybrid at University College Dublin

The theme of the conference was Reimagining development: Power, agency, and futures in an uncertain world.
In a time of deepening global uncertainty – from climate crisis to digital disruption – development is being redefined. This theme invites critical reflections on how shifting power relations and emerging forms of agency are reshaping the field. What does it mean to reimagine development in light of contested futures, decolonial struggles, and systemic challenges?

Conference Host

DSA2026 conference took place as a hybrid conference and was organised and hosted by the Centre for Sustainable Development, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin. The conference convenors were Professor Supriya Garikipati and Dr Caitriona Dowd of UCD.

Plenaries

Plenary 1: Global futures in a fragmented world by Kaushik Basu, professor of Economics and Carl Marks Professor at Cornell University.

Chaired by: Uma Kambhampati

Sponsored by: Journal of  Development Studies

Plenary 2: Reimagining pathways to gender justice in an era of uncertainities by Naila Kabeer, professor Emeritus at the Department of International Development, London School of Economics.

Chaired by: Supriya Garikipati

Sponsored by: Journal of International Development

Plenary 3: Inequalities, digital transformations, and knowledge power by Mark Graham and Aram Ziai as discussant

Chaired by: Diretnan Dikwal-Bot

Sponsored by: Oxford Development Studies