Development Studies: Approaches, Actors, and Issues

The goal

The course discusses fundamental development concepts, theories, strategies, actors, and issues. Major development themes that will be analysed are globalization, development actors, poverty and exclusion, migration, international trade, debt crisis, peace, conflict, and development nexus, etc. The course will also analyse how foreign aid programmes of various donors and international institutions affect development of the underdeveloped countries. The role of new development actors such as nongovernmental organizations, foundations and transnational corporations will also be examined. Development theories, strategies and major concepts will be discussed critically, giving the students different perspectives and shedding light on the institutional architecture and political context within which policy is made and implemented.

The outcome

This course should provide students with an ability to understand and critically assess key development issues, theories, and visions. Through in-class analysis of case studies students will improve their knowledge of social, economic, and political issues and challenges that affect the development prospects of post-conflict countries. Students will also be able to discuss the major competing approaches that aim to explain why some countries are wealthier and have better development outcomes than others.

Contents of lectures

1. Defining and labelling development
2. Measuring Development
3. Modernization and Growth Theories
4. Development Theories of the Global South
5. International Development Actors 1: States and (non)Formal Institutions
6. International Development Actors 2: Organizations, NGOs, and Foundations
7. International Development Actors 3: Transnational Corporations
8. Trade and Development
9. Peace, Conflict and Development Nexus
10. Debt Crisis, Globalization and Development
11. International Development and Migration
12. Development Aid
13. Environment and Development
14. Future of Development
15. Exam

Contents of exercises

/

1. Haslam, P., Shafer, J., Beaudet, P., 2017, Introduction to International Development: Approaches, Actors, Issues, and Practice, Oxford University Press Canada, Ontario, Chapters: 1,3,4,6,7-11,14,15,17,21

   (Original)

2. Wolf, M., 2005, Why Globalization Works, Yale Nota Bene, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, Chapter 11

   (Original)

3. Rugraf, E., Sànchez-Ancochea, D., Sumner, A., 2009, Transnational Corporations and Development Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK. Part I

   (Original)

4. Moyo, D., 2009, Dead Aid, Allen Lane, London, Chapters 1-4, 6-7

   (Original)

5. Easterly, W., 2008, Can the West Save Africa, NBER Working Paper No. 14363

   (Original)

6. Beswick, D., Jackson, P., 2011, Conflict, Security and Development: An Introduction, Routledge

   (Original)

7. O' Gorman, E., 2011, Conflict and Development: Development Matters, Zed Books

   (Original)

8. Gates, S., Hegre, H., Nygård, H. M., & Strand, H., 2012, Development Consequences of Armed Conflict, World Development, 40(9)

   (Original)

9. Barron, P., Woolcock, M., & Diprose, R., 2011, Contesting Development: Participatory Projects and Local Conflict Dynamics in Indonesia, Yale University Press

   (Original)

10. Rostow, W. W., 2008, The Five Stages of Growth, In: Development and Underdevelopment: The Political Economy of Global Inequality (4th ed), by Seligson, M. and John T. Passe-Smith, J. (Eds.), Lynne Rienner Publishers, pp. 173–180

    (Original)

11. Marber, P., 2004, Globalization and its contents, World Policy Journal 21.4, pp. 29–37

    (Original)

12. Sachs, J., 2005, The end of poverty: economic possibilities for our time. New York: Penguin Press, Chapters: 1,3,4,6,13

    (Original)

13. Easterly, W., 2006, The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good. New York: Penguin, Chapters: 2-3, 5-6

    (Original)

14. Solow, R., 1956, A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth, The Quarterly Journal of Development Economics 70, no. 1, pp. 65–94

    (Original)

15. Williamson, J., 1990, What Washington Means by Policy Reform, Latin American Adjustment: How Much has Happened 7, pp. 7–20

    (Original)

16. Rodrik, D., 2000, Institutions for High-quality Growth: What They Are and How to Acquire Them, Studies in Comparative International Development 35, no. 3, pp.3-31

    (Original)

17. Weiss, T. G., 2000, Governance, Good Governance and Global Governance: Conceptual and Actual Challenges, Third World Quarterly 21, no. 5, pp. 795–814

    (Original)

18. Acemoglu, D., and Robinson, J. A., 2012, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. Vol. 4. Crown Business, Chapter 15

    (Original)

19. De Haas, H., 2010, Migration and Development: A Theoretical Perspective. The International Migration Review 44, 1, pp. 227-264

    (Original)

20. Lavenex, S, and Kunz, R., 2008, The Migration–Development Nexus in EU External Relations, Journal of European Integration 30, 3, pp. 439-457

    (Original)

21. Mac Ginty, R. and Williams, A., 2016. Conflict and Development, Routledge, London

    (Original)

Lectures, discussions, Book reviews, In-class activities