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The Political Economy of Development
| Semester and Year | SP 2012 |
| Course Number | IDSEM-UG1636 |
| Section | 001 |
| Instructor | Rosalind Fredericks |
| Days | Tue,Thu |
| Time | 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM |
| Units | 4.0 |
| Level | U |
| Foundation Requirement | SOC, GLOBAL |
Description
Why did Asian countries become economic tigers while African nations saw their economies shrink? This course provides an introduction to the political economy of international development in order to explore the historical origins of the uneven geographies of wealth we see today. Part 1 examines the most influential theories of development, distinguishing between "big D" Development as a post-war international project and "little D" development as a historical process of global capitalist transformation. Part 2 illuminates the key actors, institutions, and discourses of Development, through tracing the history of the Bretton Woods project, in relation to the history of capitalist development. Part 3 analyzes regional trajectories of socio-spatial change in theory and history through detailed case studies of Africa and East Asia. Finally, Part 4 examines key themes in contemporary development studies, including: environment, gender, and cities. Possible readings may include: James Ferguson, Michael Goldman, and Dambisa Moyo.
Syllabus
Course Type
Interdisciplinary Seminars (IDSEM-UG)
