DIPL 4170 Topics in Economic Development for International Affairs

This course offers an in depth analysis of the multiple dimensions of development. Drawing on a range of theoretical standpoints and interdisciplinary methodologies, it provides a critical assessment of the histories, paradigms and practices of development since 1949. The course is divided in three sections. The first section familiarizes students with the historical origins of development as an idea. The second section examines classical developmental paradigms: modernization; dependency theory; the developmental state paradigm; the neoclassical model; and the capability approach. The third section of the course surveys major issues and challenges surrounding development in the contemporary world. We consider key aspects such as poverty and inequality, democratic participation, ethnicity, the role of knowledge, gender, human rights, food security and environmental sustainability. We analyze experiences of different countries in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America