COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 211: INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Department of Political Science

School of Social Sciences

College of Humanities

POLI 211 – Introduction to Development Studies

1^st Semester, 2015/2016

Main and City Campuses

Lecturers: Dr. Maame A.A. Gyekye-Jandoh; Mr. Kwame Asah-Asante

Office: Room 6 and Room 12, Political Science Dept.

Office hours: Dr. Gyekye-Jandoh – Tues. 11:45am-1:15pm and by appointment; Mr. Asah-Asante - By appointment

E-mail: mgyekyej@yahoo.com, mgjandoh@ug.edu.gh; rasahasante@ug.edu.gh

Course Description and Objective:

Introduction to Development Studies introduces students to the varied concepts and theories of development through an intensely interactive and discussion-driven format. Each session will combine lectures and discussion to ensure a thorough understanding of the readings. Considerable emphasis is thus placed on the student’s ability to, and interest in, participating in discussion and respectful debate.

The main objective of the course is to familiarize students with the meaning and scope of development, the development debate and analyses of the major theories of development, as well as contemporary issues concerning rural development, foreign aid, structural adjustment, poverty reduction strategies, and the role of the state, market, and civil society, including NGOs, in development . At the end of the course, students are expected to be conversant with a wide array of concepts such as social, economic, and sustainable development, poverty reduction, and development planning, among others. In addition, students should be able to better appreciate the dynamics involved in development and critically argue, analyze, and write about development in both global and national contexts.

Course Expectations:

• Complete all reading assignments by their due dates
• Participate in class discussions
• Come to class on a regular basis and take final exam
• Ask questions when you are unsure what the assignment is
• Write complete, clear, concise and well-organized prose on exams

Grading: One Interim Assessment (IA) 30%, and One Final Exam 70% of total grade (to make 100%)

                

Final Exam Format:

             

                 Section A       Short Answer Questions (50 points)

                 Section B       An Essay (20 points)

                

There will be two exams in POLI 211. The interim assessment (IA) will be given in the middle of the semester. The format of this will be either essay questions or short answer questions on the material taught and discussed up to that point. This will constitute 30% of the total grade for the course. The final exam will consist of short answer and essay questions, and will constitute 70% of the total grade for the course. The exam will cover class and assigned readings and class discussions. A short review will be held in the class period prior to the date of the final exam.

Note: Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. (See Student Handbook for penalties).

Success in POLI 211 will depend on timely preparation for reading and studying assignments, preparation for exams and attendance and participation in class discussion. You will be expected to spend about 8-10 hours on the reading assignments per week.

An Active Learning Approach will be used in class to cover the course material. This is an interactive mode of learning, which requires student interaction or participation in class discussion. In order for this method to be effective, it is necessary to prepare and study the lesson before coming to class. In order for an effective learning atmosphere, please do not come late to class.

Course Schedule and Readings:

Weeks 1 & 2 – Course Introduction; Understanding Development: Meanings, Scope and Problems

Coralie Bryant and Louise White. 1982. “Redefining Development.” In Managing Development in the Third World. Boulder, CO: Westview.

Denis Goulet. 1992. “Development: Creator and Destroyer of Values.” World Development, Vol. 20, No. 3, p. 467-475.

Michael P. Todaro and Stephen C. Smith. 2012. "What Do We Mean by Development?" in Economic Development. (11th edition). p. 14-25. England: Pearson Education Limited. 

Weeks 3 & 4 – Theories of Development

Andre Gunder Frank. 1966. “The Development of Underdevelopment.” In Development     Studies: A Reader by Stuart Corbridge. Ed. 1995. p. 27-37. London: Arnold

Andrew Webster. 1984. Theories of Underdevelopment.” In Introduction to the Sociology of Development. p. 81-93.

Andrew Webster. 1984. “Modernization Theory.” In Introduction to the Sociology of Development. London: Macmillan Publishers.

Paul Streeten and Shahid Burki. 1978. “Basic Needs: Some Issues.” Volume 53 of World Bank Reprint Series. World Bank. p. 411-420. See also World Development, 6: 3. 1978.

Recommended: Paul Streeten, Shahid Javed Burki, Mahbub ul-Haq, Norman Hicks, and Frances Stewart. 1982. First Things First: Meeting Basic Needs in Developing Countries. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

See also “What is Development?” 

World Bank. http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/beyond/beyondco/beg_01.pdf

Weeks 5 & 6 – Rural Development

Michael Todaro and Stephen Smith. 2012. “Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development.” In Economic Development. p. 416-457. England: Pearson Education Limited.

 Recommended: Read articles on agriculture and development in the major newspapers

Weeks 7 & 8 & 9– Foreign Aid, Structural Adjustment, and Poverty Reduction Strategies in the Quest for Development

Peter Bauer. 1991. “Foreign Aid: Central Component of World Development?” In Development Studies: A Reader by Stuart Corbridge. Ed. 1995. p. 359-368.

Michael Todaro and Stephen Smith. 2012. "Foreign Finance, Investment, and Aid: Controversies and Opportunities." in Economic Development. p. 684-708. England: Pearson Education Limited.

Recommended:

Paul Streeten. 1987. “Structural Adjustment: A Survey of the Issues and Options.” In Development Studies: A Reader by Stuart Corbridge. Ed. 1995. p.368-382.

Weeks 10 & 11 & 12 – The Role of the State, Market, and Civil Society in Development

Michael Todaro and Stephen Smith. 2012. “Development Policy making and the Roles of Market, State, and Civil Society.” In Economic Development. p. 511-516; 524-533. England: Pearson Education Limited.

Anthony Bebbington and Samuel Hickey. 2008. “Can NGOs Make a Difference?- The Challenge of Development Alternatives.” Zed Books. 

Recommended:

Mark Turner and David Hulme. 1997. “Development and Its Administration.” In Governance, Administration and Development. New York, NY: Palgrave.

Week 13 – Revision

Case Study - African Success Story at Risk: Botswana (Michael Todaro and Stephen Smith. 2012. Economic Development. p. 718-721).