Politics of Development - POL00064I
Module summary
Development is both a process of change over time (e.g. industrialization, economic growth, or the expansion of freedom) and an intentional project organized by particular groups, and for particular interests. By examining the history of development ideas and core contemporary issues in development, we will evaluate who benefits from different framings of this process.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
This module takes two different approaches to studying the politics of development.
In Term One, we teach the historical emergence of different Theories of Development. These include classical political economy, modernization theory, dependency theory, neoclassical theory, and feminism.
In Term Two, we look at Contemporary Issues in Development and link them to the theories from Term 1. These include trade, aid, finance and financialization, and environmental sustainability.
In this way, we encourage students to think about how theorizing the development process is inherently political, and to understand how theories are used to confront pressing problems in development.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should:
- Be able to distinguish and critically evaluate different theories of development
- Understand contemporary issues in development, the theoretical foundations of proposed solutions, and their political implications
- To have a good empirical and theoretical understanding of the role of various domestic and international institutions in the development process.
Module content
Likely structure to include:
1 Intro
2 Colonial administration to modernisation theory
3 Imperialism, underdevelopment and dependency theory
4 Politics of the developmental state
5 Neo-liberal counter-revolution: structural adjustment
6 Gender analysis and development politics
7 Finance and financialization
8 From building development institutions to ‘going with the grain’ of political developments
9 Green growth, degrowth and sustainable development
10 New donors/ south-south cooperation
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutors feedback and guidance hours.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days after submission; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutors regular feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2012). Why nations fail: The origins of power, prosperity, and poverty. Crown Books.
Kothari, U. (Ed.). (2019). A radical history of development studies: individuals, institutions and ideologies. Zed Books Ltd..
Reinert, E. S. (2019). How rich countries got rich... and why poor countries stay poor. Hachette UK.
Sen. A. (1999) Development as Freedom. Oxford University Press.
Visvanathan, N., Duggan, L., Nisonoff, L., & Wiegersma, N. (Eds.). (1997). The women, gender, and development reader. New Africa Books.