SPL-3007 Globalization and development. Theories and Issues - 10 stp

The course focuses on the major conceptualisations of development and globalization, and on the effects of the changing international political and economic relationships between the multilateral institutions, the state and the civil society.

The thematic issues, which will serve as points of departure for the lectures/seminars, - include: global governance institutions - IMF, World Bank and WTO; trade - liberalization, rural development; NGOs role in empowerment and microcredit versus micro-finance; gender perspectives on livelihood strategies and the informal economy. Illustrative cases will be drawn from both the South and the North.

Among the questions highlighted are; what have been the predominant development pathways in different regions and sub-regions? Who have mostly influenced the global discourses on development, economic growth and human rights in the late 20th century? What are the economic macro policies, and modern technologies that have facilitated trade, financial investments and migration across national borders? Why has the distribution of the benefits from these global developments been uneven between regions, nations and social groups within nations?

Bachelor degree in a social science subject is required as a general rule.

The minimum average grade requirement is:

• C - for bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand
• B - for bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in all other countries

The course requires solid competence in reading and writing English.

Application code: 9371.

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student has:

• A basic qualitative and quantitative knowledge about contemporary debates about economic globalization and its assumptions; the shifting relations between multilateral institutions, states and civil society; emerging geo-political global and regional inequalities; human rights as a form of cultural globalization; and finally the role of NGOs as the third global sector and their roles in poverty reduction.

Skills

The student is able to:

• Make sense of current social science and popular debates about economic globalization, of key features of the new geo-economy and the human rights regime and of the role of multilaterals, NGOs and the private sector in reducing poverty.

Competences

• Competent application of key theoretical and analytical concepts and of relevant statistics to the relevant areas of policy making and planning.

The course consists of 10 double lectures and 10 single hour seminars.

Quality control of the course

The course will be evaluated at the end of the semester.

Coursework requirement:

Obligatory attendance in 75 percent of the lectures must be documented.

The assessment method will consist of a 6 hour school exam.

The Grade-scale goes from A (tope score) to E (pass) and F (fail). The mark F opens for new exam.

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.