DECO 27A41 - The Political Economy of International Development

This course offers undergraduates a general introduction to the history, theory, and practice of international development. We take an interdisciplinary approach to some of the important questions in this field, drawing from history, political economy, sociology, and anthropology: What does development mean? Why are some countries poorer than others? How have different actors sought to address the challenges of development in the past, and how are they approaching these challenges now? While reflecting on the avenues through which students can build their own careers in the development field, the goal of this class is to go beyond traditional dichotomies and narrow definitions of progress, wellbeing, and modernity. Instead, we will invite students to develop a more nuanced understanding of international development by offering: i) a stimulating learning environment, which will support the development of their critical thinking, reading, writing, and planning skills; ii) interactions with scholars and practitioners of international development, to draw connections between histories and theories of development on one hand, and contemporary realities on the other. In this class, we ask you to examine conventional knowledge and engage critically with the assumptions behind theories and policies. Critique here is the ability to unpack and discern the specificities of an argument, recognizing the multiple challenges, actors, scales, and power structures at play in the development field. Although this class will provide a general introduction to a variety of connected topics, we hope students will walk away with the ability to identify the intellectual and political genealogy of international development ideas and policies, and situate them within a broader historical context. We hope that, by the end of the semester, students understand that international development is not engineering, with mechanical solutions to social and economic problems, but rather a political endeavor, rife with contradictions and contestations. This will improve the students' ability to develop their own personal theory of practice in international development, which they will be encouraged to put to work in their academic and professional journeys.

Ayan MEER

Séminaire

English

Spring 2024-2025

• Attendance, Preparation, and Participation Regular attendance and active participation in class discussions are expected. Students should come prepared, having completed the required readings. A few question prompts about each week's readings will be posted on the Moodle forum, and students are required to reply on the online forum by 11.59pm the day before classes with a couple of paragraphs, informally outlining notes on the readings. These might offer comparisons between readings, summaries, questions the readings left you with, as well as the occasional rant. (20% of the final grade) • Presentation In groups (numbers will depend on enrolment), students will be required to do one 20-minute presentation in class, on a topic selected from a list provided by the instructor. (30% of the final grade) • Book Review Students are expected to write a book review by the end of the semester, of books in the syllabus—in either required or further reading lists. If there is another book you wish to review, this is fine as long as you consult with the instructor in advance. A book review should accomplish three things: (i) it should briefly summarize the author's main arguments; (ii) it should place the work in its broader historical and intellectual context; and (iii) it should provide a critical appraisal of the author's arguments. One excellent way to learn how to write good reviews is to read those published in magazines and academic journals. These reviews should be 10-12000 characters (with spaces). The review is due on April 1. (50% of the final grade)