DV424 Half Unit
International Institutions and Late Development
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Ken Shadlen
Availability
This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange, MSc in Development Management (Applied Development Economics), MSc in Development Management (Applied Development Economics) (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Development Management (Political Economy), MSc in Development Management (Political Economy) (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Economic Policy for International Development, MSc in Health and International Development, MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies, MSc in International Political Economy, MSc in International Political Economy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Media, Communication and Development, MSc in Political Economy of Late Development and MSc in Political Science (Global Politics). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Places will be allocated with priority to ID and joint-degree students. If there are more ID and joint-degree students than can be accommodated, these places will be allocated randomly. Non-ID/Joint Degree students will be allocated to spare places by random selection with the preference given first to those degrees where the regulations permit this option.
Students do not need to write a statement to apply for this course.
Deadline for application: You should make your request to take ID courses by 12 noon Friday 26 September 2025.
You will be informed of the outcome by 12 noon Monday 29 September 2025.
For queries contact: intdev.enquiries@lse.ac.uk
This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
2/3 of the spaces are reserved for ID and joint degree students, distributed on a random basis.
1/3 go to non-ID/joint students, distributed on a random basis.
All students not admitted in the initial allocation of spaces go on the waitlist, and as space opens the course leader will select students, without regard to degree/dept.
Course content
This course examines the politics of the international economy. We analyse the overarching rules that affect countries’ policies in a range of areas, i.e. the “international institutions,” and we assess the role of a range of actors (e.g. governments, firms, non-state actors) in shaping and reshaping these rules. We are particularly interested in understanding the ways that developing countries respond to international rules, how they participate in the bodies that make and enforce international rules, and how all of these aspects of global economic governance affect opportunities for economic development. Hence the name of the course, “International Institutions and Late Development.” The areas covered include restructuring of sovereign debt, international trade, international investment, and intellectual property rights, and we have a week dedicated to “South-South” dynamics, shifting the axis of the course from analysis of institutions and organizations dominated by rich countries to institutions and organizations of – and for – developing countries.
Teaching
15 hours of seminars and 20 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
2 hours of lectures in the Spring Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
20 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the WT.
Plus a 2-hour revision session in the ST. There will be a reading week in Week 6 of WT.
Indicative reading
A detailed reading list is presented at the beginning of term.
Assessment
Exam (60%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Short answer questions (40%) in Winter Term Week 7
Mid-Term Exam (40%, duration: 90 minutes) in week 7 of Winter Term.
Final Exam (60%, duration: 2 hours) in the Spring Term exam period.
Key facts
Department: International Development
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 58
Average class size 2024/25: 15
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills