BASS Politics and Sociology

Indicative course content:

1. Introduction: Thinking critically about development

2. Development as modernisation

3. Development as capitalism

4. Development as discourse

5. Gender and Development

6. Climate change and sustainable development

7. Security and development

8. Development and democracy

9. Alternative developments

10. Conclusion: The contemporary politics of development

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This course will introduce students to the study of politics in the contemporary developing world, exploring the conceptual and practical struggles that underlie international and national efforts to combat poverty and exclusion.

Various theoretically-informed answers to the questions ‘how can we end poverty?’ and ‘what does “development” entail?’ will be explored, including modernization, industrialization and free trade; structural reform of the capitalist global economy and ending dependency; and discursive challenges to dominant framings of ‘poverty’ and ‘development’.

The role of major development institutions (the World Bank and IMF, the UN, bilateral donors, NGOs etc) will be considered, and we will address issues of environmental sustainability, security, and democracy. Cases from across the ‘global south’ will be examined throughout the module.

Cross-cutting themes such as gender and class, western intervention, and social movements will be repeatedly encountered.

The course finishes by exploring theoretical and ‘actually-existing’ alternatives to the mainstream development paradigm, with particular emphasis on indigenous social movements and the implications of ideas like degrowth for the dominant development paradigm. Have these radical alternatives been incorporated, pacified or advanced by initiatives such as the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to demonstrate:
1. Understanding of the major approaches to the study of politics of development
2. Familiarity with a wide range of cases from the developing world, and be able to apply theoretical approaches to those cases
3. Understanding of the complex dynamics that produce and sustain underdevelopment.

Development Report Review: 1,750 words (30%)

Online group work (20%)

Coursework essay: 3,000 words (50%)

Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission via Blackboard (if submitted through Turnitin).

Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June.

For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results. This applies to Semester 2 modules only. Semester one modules with no final examination will have their feedback available within the 15 working days.

You will receive feedback on assessed essays in a standard format. This will rate your essay in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the essay. If you have any queries about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor. Tutors and Course Convenors also have a dedicated office hour when you can meet with her/him to discuss course unit specific problems and questions.

On assessments submitted through Turnitin you will receive feedback via Blackboard. This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future. You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff

Burnell, P. and Randall, V (2008) Politics in the Developing World, 2nd edition, Oxford: OUP
Kiely, R. (2007) The New Political Economy of Development, Basingstoke: Palgrave
McMichael, P. (2012) Development and Change: A Global Perspective, 3rd edition, London: Pine Forge Press.