Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LC Politics of Development
School	Government
Department	International Development
Module Code	08 34438
Module Lead	David Hudson
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Over the past decade, there has been growing recognition that politics matters for development, but how? This module will explore the latest thinking about how politics can enable or constrain development. Politics is understood as a continual process of contestation and negotiation over who gets what, where and how. We will examine this process from the national to the local level, inside and outside the state, and from the formal rules of government, through to the informal ‘rules of the game’. We will use a range of illustrative cases to understand how different types of political systems have evolved, how far we can usefully categorise them, and whether we can predict their influence on development. We will examine contested debates on the links between democracy and development, the role of patronage in development, and the politics of social exclusion. We will also explore cases where local political dynamics and popular mobilisation have pushed through key developmental reform. Throughout the module, students will apply different theoretical lenses - including institutionalism, rational choice, power and collective action – to understand when politics is an obstacle or a solution to complex development problems. Weekly lectures will be complemented by participatory weekly seminars, giving students the opportunity to apply these ideas to a range of real-world scenarios.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Distinguish between major theories of the politics of development. Describe types of political systems, both formal and informal, that can operate at different levels of society. Critically assess the links between formal and informal political dynamics and poverty, social inclusion and development. Apply a theoretical lens to explain the political dynamics of a range of developing countries.
Assessment	34438-01 : 1000 Word Assessment : Coursework (25%) 34438-02 : 3000 Word Assessment : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 1,000 word written assignment (25%) mid term assessment and 1 x 3000 word written assignment (75%) final assessment. Reassessment: 1 x 3000 word essay
Other
Reading List