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SP50218: Policy & politics of developing countries

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To establish the political theoretical frameworks necessary for the analysis of policy and then to introduce the wider concepts, ideas and questions that are fundamental to the study of politics in developing countries.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the units students should:
* have a critical understanding of key concepts from political science necessary for the analysis of policy, both in general and in relation to development policy;
* be critically aware of the range of 'actors' in the policy process and place them in theoretical context;
* have a critical understanding of the way Western political theory has been applied to developing countries;
* show an understanding of basic conceptualisations of democracy, state, nationalism that had their origins in the West but are used to evaluate the politics of developing countries.

Skills:
Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (e.g. essays) (Taught/Facilitated/Assessed). Ability to select, summarise and synthesis written information from multiple sources (T/F/A). Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models (T/F/A). Ability to select and use appropriate ideas to produce a coherent response to a pre-set question (T/F/A). Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A). Ability to work independently, without close supervision or guidance (T/F/A).

Content:
Part 1: Politics and policy analysis; Theories of the state; Theories of power; Organisations and Institutions; Street-level bureaucrats; Organised interests and civil society: Part 2: The politics of studying the politics of developing countries; The state of the Third World State; The problem of democratisation, problematising democracy; Contesting the Nation; contesting Nationalisms; Conceptualising politics; Politicising concepts.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP50218 is available for Auditing on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

SP50218 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.