How do some countries get rich but others remain poor? Will trade wars and climate change slow down economic growth? How can we build democracy and gender equality in poorer countries?
In this course you will consider these and other questions. You will also relate them to important topical events such as the global financial crisis, economic growth in China, and refugee crises such as the war in Syria, drought and food security in Africa, or democratisation in Latin America. The course offers an introduction to International Development – or the study of how to achieve prosperous, healthy, and fulfilling lives in different countries. International Development is now a growing field of social science, and is a focus of public policy.
The objective of the course will be to explain the core debates in International Development, and to review potential policy interventions at global, national, and sub-national levels. The approach adopted in the course draws from political science and international relations, with a focus on political economy. It does not use quantified economics, and essays will be the means of evaluation.
The subject matter of the course will include economic globalization, trade and investment, the causes and responses to poverty, democracy and gender empowerment, international aid and armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change. The course will also consider the role of international organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organisation, as well as other aid and civil society organisations.
You will leave this course with a valuable overview of international development, and different approaches used by international organisations, governments, and civil society. The course attracts students in politics, international relations, economics, geography, and sociology, as well professionals looking for a fast introduction to academic and policy debates about development.
Session: Three
Dates: 2 – 20 August 2021
Lecturer: Professor Tim Forsyth