POL410H1S L5101
Graduate Course Code: POL2391H1S L5101
Topics in Comparative Politics III
Rethinking Development: Revenue, Conflict, Aid and the Challenge of State Building
Themes
This course explores the political foundations of effective developmental states in Asia, Latin America and, particularly, Africa. Drawing on contemporary case studies it highlights the centrality of revenue,
conflict and the international system in shaping the nature and capacity of the
state and the priorities and accountability of governments. By focusing on state-society relations and the political foundations of effective states, rather than specific economic and political institutions, this course reconsiders the nature of the development challenge, and the role of foreign aid in contemporary state building.
Texts
TBA
Format and Requirements
Students are expected to participate actively in discussions, make one in-class presentation, submit two brief critical reviews of weekly readings and submit a major research paper. Participation and the presentation are worth 30%, the critical reviews are worth 20% and the major research paper is worth 50%.
Prerequisites
2.0 credits in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses