POLS446-21S1 (C) Semester One 2021

Political Economy of Development

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 22 February 2021
End Date: Sunday, 27 June 2021
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 7 March 2021
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 14 May 2021

Description

This course examines the historical major economic, political, and social changes in the world economy in general and a comparative case study focus on East and Southern Asia. Discussion includes factors contributing to increases in economics performance, changes in the form of government, technological change (including industrialization), and episodes of integration and disintegration of the global economy. The course will also survey the impact of colonialism and the development of the nation-state and examines the theoritical approaches to economic development and growth.

This course examines the major historical economic, political, and social changes in the world economy. These include factors contributing to increases in economics performance, changes in the form of government, technological change (including industrialization), and episodes of integration and disintegration of the global economy.  Can there be development outside of a state structure?  What is the role of economic organizations of society in development?  These are some of the questions that we examine in these and in so doing we will survey some of the major theoretical approaches to understanding the politics of economic development.

Emphasis is on institutional changes in how societies organize economic and political activities as well as on variation in development among geographic regions. Using this background, the course takes up some key issue facing nation-states including foreign trade and investment, debt, aid, and agents of change. Political economy is a core course for any political science degree at any level. The knowledge and the ability to methodically and empirically analyse how politics and economics interact is fundamental in the scientific and empirical study of politics and international relations.

Learning Outcomes

  • Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • Read original articles in political science and international relations, political economy, economic history, and development studies journals;
  • Have the knowledge and skills to analyse and evaluate the various theoretical approaches to political economy;
  • Understand how the international economic system operates and understand the various mechanisms by which economies develop;
  • Apply political science, economic and development theories and analysis to historical and contemporary episodes of contemporary political-economic issues;
  • Understand the different perspectives and theories of development and change in the modern era;
  • Analyse the competing interests, motivations and rhetoric of key stakeholders and interest groups;
  • Conduct research and think critically and to develop academic writing styles to suit different purposes;
  • Understand the issues and processes described and to relate them to current affairs and present-day issues of significance;
  • Write well-structured, coherent, and concise essays that synthesize ideas as presented in discussion, readings, and research materials.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Restrictions

POLS407, DIPL407, ILAP671

Course Coordinator

Alex Tan

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Reading summaries 20% 800-1000 words
Class participation 10%
Midterm test 30 Mar 2021 30%
Final test 01 Jun 2021 40% In-class test

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Bates, Robert H; Prosperity and violence : the political economy of development ; 2nd ed; W.W. Norton & Co., 2010 ((Entire book)).

Bates, Robert H; The development dilemma : security, prosperity, and a return to history ; Princeton University Press, 2017.

Clark, Cal , Tan, Alexander C; Taiwan's political economy : meeting challenges, pursuing progress ; Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2012 ((Selected chapters)).

Gourevitch, Peter Alexis; Politics in hard times : comparative responses to international economic crises ; Cornell University Press, 1986 ((Chapters 1, 2, 6)).

Haggard, Stephan. , Harvard University; Pathways from the periphery : the politics of growth in the newly industrializing countries ; Cornell University Press, 1990 ((Chapters 1, 2, 6 and 10)).

Nooruddin, Irfan; Coalition politics and economic development : credibility and the strength of weak governments ; Cambridge University Press, 2011 ((Chapters 1 to 3)).

North, Douglass Cecil; Structure and change in economic history ; 1st ed; Norton, 1981 ((Chapters 1 to 6)).

White, Lynn T; Political booms : local money and power in Taiwan, East China, Thailand, and the Philippines ; World Scientific, 2009 ((Chapters 1, 4, and 5)).

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,905.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS446 Occurrences

  • POLS446-21S1 (C) Semester One 2021
  • POLS446-21S1 (D) Semester One 2021 (Distance)