Dr Ryan Jablonski

This course is available on the MSc in Political Science (Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics), MSc in Political Science (Global Politics), MSc in Political Science (Political Behaviour), MSc in Political Science (Political Science and Political Economy) and MSc in Public Policy and Administration. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process. For information on controlled access courses, including eligibility, application processes, deadlines, and departmental contact details, please refer to the Controlled Access Courses webpage.

How to apply: To apply for a place on this course, please submit a short statement of no more than 200 words via LfY. Your statement should outline your reasons for applying and explain how the course will support your academic and/or career goals. If applicable, you should also demonstrate how you meet any pre-requisites listed in the course guide. If the course is compulsory for your programme, no written statement is required.

Priority for places on Government (GV) courses will be given first to students for whom the course is compulsory. Where applicable, priority will then be given to students on the Department of Government programmes listed in the ‘Availability’ section of the course guide, followed by students on other programmes listed in that section. Students on all other programmes will be considered next, where a course is available as an outside option. You should ensure that you meet any pre-requisites listed in the course guide before applying. Places on capped courses cannot be guaranteed. Where a course is oversubscribed, places will be allocated based on programme priority and the written statement.

Deadline for applications: The deadline for applications is 12:00 noon on Friday 25 September 2026. You can expect to be informed of the outcome of your application by 12:00 noon on Monday 28 September 2026. Any places remaining after this date will be allocated based on priority and written statement - up until course selection closes.

For queries contact: gov.msc@lse.ac.uk.

In many non-Western countries, transnational actors play a key role in policymaking, democratic development and political reform: Donors and NGOs facilitate social spending; international organizations provide pressure for economic and political reform; foreign civil organizations fund and monitor elections. The objective of this course is to examine and explain such impacts of transnational actors on contemporary policymaking and democratic development in the Global South. The course will begin with a review of the history and normative challenges posed by the political influence of transnational actors. The course will then look at theory and evidence on how NGOs, foreign donors, civic organisations and international financial institutions shape domestic policy and democratic development. The final part of the course will focus on analysing the successes and failures of global democracy promotion efforts. The course will also require students to apply their accumulated knowledge during a policy simulation activity.

The course is geared towards MSc students interested global politics, especially those pursuing careers in the civil service or related to international organisations, NGOs, civil society or international development.

15 hours of lectures and 20 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

Presentation.

Proposal.

All students are expected to produce a research proposal and contribute to in-class discussion and policy simulation activities.

• Jablonski, Ryan S. Dependency Politics: How Foreign Aid Shapes Electoral Behavior. Cambridge University Press, 2026.
• Mkandawire, Thandika. "Aid, accountability, and democracy in Africa." Social Research: An International Quarterly 77.4 (2010): 1149-1182.
• Asunka, Joseph, et al. "Electoral fraud or violence: The effect of observers on party manipulation strategies." British Journal of Political Science 49.1 (2019): 129-151.
• Bush, Sarah Sunn, and Lauren Prather. Monitors and meddlers: how foreign actors influence local trust in elections. Cambridge University Press, 2022.
• Krasner, Stephen D., and Jeremy M. Weinstein. "Improving governance from the outside in." Annual Review of Political Science 17.1 (2014): 123-145.
• Andrews, Matt, Lant Pritchett, and Michael Woolcock. Building state capability: Evidence, analysis, action. Oxford University Press, 2017.
• van de Walle, Nicolas. African economies and the politics of permanent crisis, 1979-1999. Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Essay (50%, 3000 words) in Spring Term Week 3.

Case analysis / study (50%) in Winter Term Week 11.

The course will be assessed through a research essay (50%, 3,000 words, due in ST). Additionally, students will be assessed on their participation in a group policy simulation activity (50%). Their mark on this simulation will be based on the team’s in-class presentation, a final written report and a self-assessment (due in WT).