POL425H1S L0101

State and Development in Historical Perspective

Themes

What is the state’s role in economic development? What caused the industrial revolution, and why was Britain at its forefront? These questions have preoccupied social scientists and political practitioners alike since the nineteenth century, and the recent profusion of economic history research suggests that consensus remains as elusive as ever. Much of this literature takes an institutional approach, attributing north-western Europe’s economic precocity to political institutions that established secure property rights. This argument has a distinguished pedigree, but its assumptions are increasingly at odds with the findings of historical scholarship. We will work together to bridge this gap, contrasting the work of historians, political scientists, and economists on the causes of European economic growth, and devoting particular attention to the role of the state in each. We will also examine and evaluate more recent developmental models around the world, from state socialism to market socialism to the “developmental state.”

Texts

Stephan Haggard, Developmental States; others TBA.

Format and Requirements

One two-hour seminar per week. Participation 25%, weekly reading quizzes 25%, reading response paper 20%, final research proposal 30%.