COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST - POLI 441: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT SINCE INDEPENDENCE

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

University of Ghana

POLI 441: The Political Economy of Africa’s Development since Independence

 Course Outline and Reading List

First Semester 2013/2014 

Lecturer: S. M. Alidu/K. Jonah                                      Contact: skkytosh@yahoo.com

Time: Wednesday’s 7:30 – 9:20 (Group A)                    Venue: JQB 23                                                                                                              

Friday’s 9:30 – 11:20     (Group B)                                         CC

This course introduces students to the interaction between politics and economics and its implication for Africa’s development.  It will examine both domestic and international forces that influence Africa’s development since independence, the continent’s response to these developmental challenges and the contending theories that shaped those responses. It is expected that students will be able to identify and discuss the different theories that underpin the International Political Economy and apply them to the various developmental challenges of Africa and other parts of the world in similar circumstances.

Development Strategy in Historical Perspectives

Chang, H.-J. (2005) Kicking Away the Ladder: Developing Strategy in Historical Perspective, London: Anthem Press (Chapter 1, “Introduction: How did the Rich Countries Really Rich?,” pp. 1 – 9)

Wade, R. H. (2003) Governing the Market: Economic Theory and the role of Government in East Asia’s Industrialization, Princeton: Princeton University Press (“Introduction”)

Bardhan, P. (1993) “Symposium on Democracy and Development” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 45-49

Nye, J. (1991) “The Myth of Free-Trade Britain and Fortress France: Tariffs and Trade in the Nineteenth Century” Journal of Economic History, Vol. 53, No.1, pp. 23-46

Theoretical Approaches and Contending Perspectives in IPE I (Mercantilism, Liberalism & Marxism)

Ravenhill, J. (ed) (2005) Global Political Economy, Oxford: Oxford University Press, (Part One, pp. 3 – 47)

O’Brien, R. and Williams, M. (2004) Global Political Economy: Evolution and Dynamics, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, (Chp. 1, Understanding the Global Political Economy, pp. 11 – 36)

 Jackson, R.  and Sorensen, G. (2003) Introduction to International Relations Theories and Approaches, Oxford: Oxford University Press (Chp. 6, International Political Economy Theories (IPE): Classical Theories, pp. 175 – 193;  Chp. 8, International Political Economy: Contemporary Debates).

Oatley, T. (2008) International Political Economy: Interests and Institutions in the Global Economy, Third Edition, New York: Pearson Education, Inc. (Chp. 1: International Political Economy, pp. 2 – 21)

Theoretical Approaches and Contending Perspectives in IPE II (Modernization, Dependency & Statist)

Ake, C. (1981) A Political Economy of Africa, United Kingdom: Longman Group, (Chp. 1, Colonialism and Capitalist Penetration of Africa; Chp. 2, The Colonial Economy)

Chole, E. and Ibrahim, J. (eds.) (1995) Democratization Processes in Africa: Problems and Prospects, CODESRIA Book Series,

Rapley, J. (1996) Understanding Development: Theory and Practice in the Third World, Boulder Colarado: Lynne Reinner Publisher (Chp. 2, State-led Development in Practice, pp. 27 – 54; Chp. 5, Development Theory in the Wake of Structural Adjustment, pp. 119 – 134)    

Boafo-Arthur, K. (1998) “The International Community and Ghana’s Transition to Democracy” in Ghana: Transition to Democracy, CODESSRIA Book Series, (“Introduction”, pp. 167 – 186)

Mkandawire, T. (1995), “Adjustment, Political Conditionality and Democratization in Africa” in Chole, E. and Ibrahim, J. eds. Democratization Processes in Africa: Problems and Prospects, CODESRIA Book Series, pp. 81 – 98

Aid and Africa’s Development   

Dambisa, M. (2009) Dead Aid: Why Aid is not Working and How there is a Better Way for Africa. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, (Part I: The World of Aid, pp. 3 – 68)

World Bank (2000) Can Africa Claim the 21^st Century? Washington DC: World Bank (Chp. 8: “Reducing Aid Dependence and Debt and Strengthening Partnerships”, pp. 235 – 255)

World Bank (2002) A Case for Aid: Building a Consensus for Development Assistance, Washington DC: World Bank (Part II: Nicholas Stern “Making the Case for Aid” pp.  15 – 24)

Neumayer, E. (2003) The Pattern of Aid Giving: the Impact of Good Governance on Development Assistance, London: Routledge

Arslanalp, Serkan and Peter Blair Henry (2004) “Helping the Poor Help Themselves: Debt Relief or Aid?”, NBER Working Paper N0. 10230, January

Globalization and Africa’s Development  

Wolf, M.  (2004) Why Globalization Works, New Haven: Yale University Press (Chp. 2, What Liberal Globalization Means, pp. 13 – 22; Chp.7, Globalization in the Long Run, pp. 96 – 105)   

Stiglitz, J. E.  (2002)  Globalization and its Discontents, New York: W.W. Norton and Company (Chp. 9, The Way Ahead, pp. 214 – 252)

Wade, R. (2005) “Globalization, Poverty and Inequality” in Ravenhill, J. (ed)   Global Political Economy, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Boafo-Arthur, K. (2003) “Tackling Africa’s Developmental Dilemmas: Is Globalization the Answer?” Journal of Third World Studies, Vol. XX, No. 1, Spring, pp. 27 – 54

Responses to Africa’s Economic Quandary

Callaghy, T.M. and Ravenhill, J.  (eds.) (1993) Hemmed In: Responses to Africa’s Economic Decline, New York: Columbia University Press (Introduction “Vision, Politics and Structure: Afro-Optimism, Afro-Pessimism, or Reality”)

Chang, H. (2005) Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective, London: Anthem Press (Chp. 3, Institutions and Economic Development: “Good Governance” in Historical Perspective, pp. 69 – 110) 

Sen, A.  (1999) Development as Freedom, Oxford: Oxford University Press, (Chp. 1, The Perspective of Freedom, pp. 13 – 34; Chp. 2, The Ends and Means of Development, pp.  35 – 53)   

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) (www.nepad.org.)

The Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview.html)