Module ARA1037 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
ARA1037: The Politics of Development
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The module aims to provide you with a general introductory survey of the politics of development, focusing particularly on the Middle East, but also covering cases from Africa and Asia. The module will introduce you to the major theoretical debates in international development and the implications of different development definitions, as well as covering the core challenges of development and the role played by political institutions (domestic and international). Upon completion of the module, you will be equipped with an understanding of the effects of international aid as well as be able to situate development challenges within core international debates on development. The module furthermore provides a good foundation for further study of development and foreign assistance, such as e.g. authoritarian resilience and democracy support as well as, of course, Middle East studies in general.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate an understanding of the major theories of the politics of development as well as the main forces, trends and characteristics of the domestic and international factors at play; 2. place contemporary political events in social and historical contexts and appreciate the role political institutions might play for development as well as understand some of the core challenges of development; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. relate political issues and trends to economic, societal and cultural dynamics, and to comprehend the interplay between these at the domestic and international levels; 4. relate socio-political and socio-economic phenomena at the local and international level; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. synthesize information from various sources into a coherent written argument displaying an understanding of the core debates around international development aid; 6. demonstrate good oral and written communication skills; and 7. demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team. |
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation utilizing slides | 10 minutes | 1-4; 6-7 | Written feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synopsis | 20 | 1,000 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
| Essay | 80 | 3,000 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synopsis | Synopsis (1,000 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (3,000 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
- Carol Lancaster and Nicolas van de Walle (2018) The Oxford Handbook of the Politics of Development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Chandra, Siddarth and Nita Rudra (2015) 'Reassessing the links between regime type and economic performance: Why some authoritarian regimes show stable grown and others do not', British Journal of Political Science 45(2): 253-85.
- Hutchcroft, Paul (1997) 'The politics of privilege: assessing the impact of rents, corruption and clientelism on Third World development', Political Studies 45(3): 639-58.
- Lange, Matthew (2004) 'British colonial legacies and political development', World Development 32(6): 905-22.
- Mkandawire, Thandika (2013) 'Neopatrimonialism and the political economy of economic performance in Africa: Critical reflections', World Politics, pp. 1-50.
- Welzel, Christian, Ronald Inglehart and Hans-Dieter Klingemann (2003) 'The theory of human development: a cross-cultural analysis', European Journal of Political Research 42(3): 341-79.
