module specification

Issues such as corruption, organised crime, political violence, state disintegration, and extreme poverty present particular challenges to administration in developing and transitional societies. This module examines the new pressures and opportunities such societies face in administering public services. It will also explore the role of key international agencies engaged in global governance reform, such as the WTO, UN, World Bank and the IMF, and the role of NGO’s and bilateral donors. A key focus of the module will be to evaluate the effectiveness of different development strategies, using quantitative and qualitative techniques.

This module aims to:
 To develop a detailed understanding of the role and functions of the principal agencies promoting reform in developing and transitional societies
 To critically examine the differing perspectives which have been used to understand the work of these agencies
 To develop skills of analysis based on quantitative and qualitative data on development strategies.

The syllabus will be divided into two parts. The first part will deal with core themes including the history and development/aid functions of key international organisations. LO1,LO2

The second part will consider by means of national case studies, the contemporary issues in which these agencies have been closely involved.

These issues include eg measures to:
• combat gender inequality,
• achieve economic stability and growth,
• reform ‘governance’,
• eradicate corruption,
• modernise civil services,
• reconstruct ‘failed’ states,
• achieve millennium development goals

LO1,LO2,LO3

This module will be delivered through weekly sessions that combine lectures, interactive workshops, Data seminars, group and individual directed research, applied exercises. Most of the teaching and learning material will be delivered via Weblearn.

Emphasis will be placed on active learning using student centred methodologies to enable students to relate theory and practice of international development and administration.

At the end of the module the student will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the structures, functions and impact on developing societies of the major multilateral agencies such as the IMF, World Bank, and INGO’s using examples from specific country case studies. [LO1]
2. Demonstrate systematic understanding and practical application of the contrasting theoretical models that have been given to explain the activities of these agencies [LO2]
3. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of contrasting development strategies [LO3]

The course will be assessed by means of:
• a (Podcast) presentation (30%) [LO1], [LO3]
• a final written assignment in the form of a country portfolio, 3,000 words  (70%). [LO2], [LO3]

These are designed to ensure that a depth and range of knowledge is acquired and demonstrated. They also provide an opportunity to further develop a variety of transferable skills. The written assignment provides an opportunity to exercise initiative in topic choice and to undertake guided independent learning. The seminar presentation will provide an opportunity to demonstrate critical awareness in relation to the particular topic under consideration, exercise transferable skills and develop a degree of specialisation within the module syllabus.

Core:
Margaret P. Karns, Karen A. Mingst (2010)  International organizations: the politics and processes of global governance, Lynne Rienner Publishing.

Moyo, D (2009) Dead Aid: Why aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa   NY: Farrar Strauss

Paulo Barcelos  and Gabriele De Angelis (2016) International development and human aid: principles, norms and  institutions for the global sphere / Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press.

Kingsbury, Damien, (2016) International development: issues and challenges / London: Palgrave, CLASS NO     338.91091724 KIN.

Nalini  Visvanathan [et al.] (2011) The women, gender and development reader / Halifax: Fernwood; London: Zed Books, ADD.CLASS    305.42091724.

Vandana Desai and Robert B. Potter (2014) The companion to development studies / London: Routledge, ADD.CLASS    338.9.

Centeno, Miguel Angel, (2017) States in the developing world / Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2017.

Channing Arndt and Finn Tarp (2017) Measuring poverty and wellbeing in developing countries / Oxford : Oxford University Press. ADD.CLASS    362.5091724.

Andrews, Matt, (2017)  Building state capability : evidence, analysis, action / New York: Oxford University Press. ADD.CLASS    320.1.

Additional:

Rai, Shirin. (2008) The gender politics of development: essays in hope and despair / London : Zed Books, CLASS NO     320.91724082 RAI.

Dorcas Robinson, Tom Hewitt and John Harriss (2000) Managing development: understanding inter-organizational relationships / London: SAGE, 2000. CLASS NO     338.91 MAN.

Arora-Jonsson, Seema, (2013) Gender, development, and environmental governance / New York; London: RoutledgeCLASS NO     333.72082 ARO.

Peter Carroll and Richard Common (2013) Policy transfer and learning in public policy and management: international contexts, content and development / London: New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. ADD.CLASS    320.6.

Rittberger,V and Zangl, B (2006) International organization: polity, politics and policies Palgrave Macmillan

Rieff, D (2002) A bed for the night: humanitarianism in crisis  Vintage

Collier, P (2008) Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it   OUP

Easterly, W (2007) The white man’s burden: why the West’s efforts to aid the rest have done so much ill and so little good   OUP

Allen, T and Thomas, A ‘Poverty and development into the 21st century’  OUP

Kothari, U and Minogue, M (eds) Development theory and practice: critical perspectives  Palgrave  pp1-15

Burnell, P (2000) Democracy assistance in international co-operation for democratization  Routledge

Harrison, G (2004)  The world bank and Africa: the construction of governance states  Routledge

Mallaby, S (2005) The world’s banker: a story of failed states, financial crises and the wealth and poverty of nations  Yale

Schaffner, Julie (2017)  Development economics [electronic resource] : people, choices,                 and well-being / London : Henry Stewart Talks, 2017.

Michael Barnett and Thomas G. Weiss (2008) Humanitarianism in question: politics, power, ethics / Ithaca: Cornell University Press. CLASS NO     361.26 HUM.

Horton, Lynn, (2018) Women and microfinance in the global South: empowerment and                 disempowerment outcomes / Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018.

Online resources:
www.dfid.gov.uk  UK Department for International Development
www.worldbank.org   The World Bank
www.odi.org.uk  overseas development institute
www.imf.org   The International Monetary Fund
http://www.oecd.org/department/0,2688,en_2649_33721_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
development assistance committee (DAC) of OECD
http://www.hiid.harvard.edu/    Harvard institute for international development
http://home.developmentgateway.org/  
www.un.org  United Nations
www.ids.ac.uk  institute for development studies
www.sed.manchester.ac.uk  Institute for development policy and management
http://www.oxfam.org.uk  oxfam
http://www.who.int  world health organization