GY301
The Political Geography of Development and the South
This information is for the 2015/16 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Gareth Jones S506 and Dr Claire Mercer S418
Availability
This course is available on the BA in Geography, BSc in Environment and Development, BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics, BSc in Geography with Economics and BSc in International Relations. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
Course content
A critical analysis of the politics of contemporary development processes in the South and the global interests which influence them. The course considers development as both practical pursuit and as a series of discourses and representations.
1. Framing Geo-Politics and Development: introduction to Geopolitics, Security and Development, Critical Geopolitics, Postcolonialism.
2. Geo-Politics and Empires:End of Empire and the 'American Century'; The Cold War; New World (Dis)Order, Rogue States, Wild Zones; The War on Terror.
3. Geo-Politics and Neo-Liberal Development: Living with Perpetual Crisis; Corruption; Aid; New Development Actors; Good Governance; Civil Society; Microfinance.
4. Critical Geo-politics and Representation: Immigration, Drugs, Disease, Gangs, Slum Tours and Celebrity.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 2 hours of lectures and 2 hours of classes in the ST.
Formative coursework
Students are expected to complete four class essays during the year.
Indicative reading
No one book covers the syllabus. Key themes will be linked to a main or set of texts, complemented by a more detailed reading list.
Assessment
Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2500 words) in the LT.
Student performance results
(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| First | 16.7 |
| 2:1 | 46.7 |
| 2:2 | 27.8 |
| Third | 7.8 |
| Fail | 1.1 |
Key facts
Department: Geography & Environment
Total students 2014/15: 27
Average class size 2014/15: 14
Capped 2014/15: No
Value: One Unit
PDAM skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Specialist skills
Course survey results
(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)
1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" scoreThe scores below are average responses.
Response rate: 51%
Question |
Average | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reading list (Q2.1) |
1.9 | ||||||
Materials (Q2.3) |
1.8 | ||||||
Course satisfied (Q2.4) |
1.7 | ||||||
Lectures (Q2.5) |
2 | ||||||
Integration (Q2.6) |
1.9 | ||||||
Contact (Q2.7) |
1.8 | ||||||
Feedback (Q2.8) |
2 | ||||||
Recommend (Q2.9) |
|
