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Theories and Policies of Development Governance 

Module Description

This module looks at major theories and policies of development governance.  Debates about how best to achieve economic and social development in the developing world have focused on what role the state should play in the development process.  The module examines this question by charting trends in development policy from early state-led models of development, to the rise of neoliberalism and the more recent preoccupation with ‘good governance’.  It also considers how these trends have been reflected in a number of distinct policy areas within development governance and the merits of contending approaches to state-market relations in these contexts.

The topics covered include late industrialization and the East Asian developmental state, neoliberalism and structural adjustment, the roles of different forms of institutions in development, and whether democracy is essential for effective development governance. In addition, the module covers the governance of development in the areas of work, poverty, welfare and the promotion of ‘social capital’. The module is multidisciplinary, introducing students to influential ideas in the politics, economics and political economy of development.

Module Objectives

The module is multidisciplinary, introducing students to influential ideas in the politics, economics and political economy of development, to familiarise students with debates and historical patterns concerning the relationship of  governance and development.

Preliminary Reading

Chang, Ha-Joon (2002) Kicking Away the Ladder (Anthem Press)

Leftwich, A (2000) States of Development: On the Primacy of Politics in Development (Polity Press)

Sen, A.K. (2000) Development As Freedom (Oxford University Press)

Stiglitz, Joseph (2002) Globalization and its Discontents (Allen Lane)

Assessment

One essay of 4000 words (100% of total mark).

Every year our students' feedback helps us to improve our modules

“The student presentations were a useful tool to understand key concepts in the literature.”

Jigsaw