Department of Economics & International Development, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
EC30041 Global governance and the contemporary challenges of under-development |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Honours |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 20%, EX 80% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The unit introduces students to the key contemporary debates over the causes of and possible solutions to the major developmental challenges facing the world's poorest countries. In particular, it covers: debates over the utility or futility of international aid to assist poor countries; debates over the 'conflict trap' affecting many under-developed countries and critiques of the mainstream 'Liberal Peace' agenda linking security and development; and, debates over contemporary concepts of global governance and global civil society. The unit explores 'succesful' case studiesand contemporary global trends that present a challenge to dominant views on global development, including the rise of China and India, and the Latin American shift.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit students will be able to: * critically understand the concepts of global governance, conflict, security and under-development; * critically evaluate mainstream diagnoses of under-development as a consequence of poor governance and the 'conflicttrap' and critiques of this orthodoxy; * critically assess contemporary global trends in the politics of development * understand the different levels and actors involved in world politics of development and critically discuss their contributions to different development approaches. Skills: * ability to understand and analyse critically a range of issues in the contemporary world politics of development. * Ability to make presentations and engage in constructive, critical discussion. * Ability to write articulately, concisely and persuasively about issues in world politics of development. * Ability to research an independently an issue related to world politics of development. Content: 1. The failure of development: Chronic under-development in historical perspective 2. Theoretical perspectives on the world order and global goveranance 3. The politics and impacts of aid 4. The 'conflict trap': War and under-development 5. The regional nature of conflict, security and development 6. Humanitarian and military interventions 7. The 'resource curse' and its limitations 8. Bucking the trend: Botswana and Malaysia 9. The changing world politics of development: China and India 10. The Latin American shift: Venezuela. |