JGP2408Y1Y L0101

Political Economy of International Development

Themes

This course explores the political economy of development strategies within the context of neoliberal globalization. It focuses on both the evolving market-oriented approach and alternative development strategies. Case studies drawn from Latin America, Asia and Africa examine the design, implementation, and performance of the various development models. This course, given by the Departments of Geography and Political Science, is restricted to graduate students.

Texts

The following are some books which could profitably be read as preparation for this course: David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism (2005); K. Gallagher, Putting Development First: The Importance of Policy Space in the WTO and IFIs (2005); Karl Polanyi, The Great Transformation (2001) [1944]; John Rapley, Understanding Development, 3rd ed. (2007); Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization and Its Discontents (2002); R. Sandbrook, M. Edelman, P. Heller and J. Teichman, Social Democracy in the Global Periphery: Origins, Challenges, Prospects (2007); and Richard Sandbrook, ed., Civilizing Globalization: A Survival Guide (2003).

Format and Requirements

This is a seminar course in which one-third of the sessions are introduced by an instructor and two-thirds by students. Participants will make oral presentations, write one research paper, and prepare four brief reflections on key readings.