DEVS 230/3.0: The Global Political Economy of Development

This course is available to both Queen’s and non-Queen’s students. Non-Queen’s students (including interest students, visiting students, and new online degree students) must first apply for admission. The following is presented for informational purposes only and is subject to change.

Instructor

Dr. Mark Hostetler Learn more about the instructor...
E-mail: hostetle@queensu.ca

Course Description

This online global development studies course applies global political economy perspectives to key aspects of development finance. Topics include the introduction of basic economic terms, the role of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and the growing roles of Transnational Corporations and financial markets in development.

Course Objectives

This course introduces students to important debates within the political economy of development. In using a political economy perspective we examine how different types of power relations are formed around the production, distribution and consumption of goods across local, national and international settings.

We examine how these power relations structure the institutions, processes and outcomes of ‘global development’ and we do this historically, by examining the ways in which post-colonial countries were integrated into the world economy in the decades following the Second World War.

Subsequently, we use this basis to examine more contemporary issues, from free trade to good governance to corporate social responsibility. No prior study of economics is needed for this course – we will be concerned with the real world of development, not abstract mathematical models.

There are three main sections to the course:

First, we examine how the key institutions of the contemporary global economy were established and evolved in the period following the Second World War. We assess in detail the context that many newly-independent countries found themselves in following the colonial era and the strategies that many followed in order to try and achieve ‘development’ through industrialisation. Despite strong economic growth in the 1950s and 1960s, this ‘golden era of development’ ground to a halt in the 1970s and, by the 1980s, many countries became mired in debt. We examine different perspectives on what caused this ‘Debt Crisis’ and examine the means used to resolve it, particularly the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in promulgating structural adjustment programmes.

We then build on this to examine contemporary debates over the strategies that countries should follow in order to promote ‘development’. We focus on recent debates over trade liberalization, foreign direct investment, financial flows and good governance. These issues have stirred controversy within development studies: there are contrasting views on how policies such as trade liberalization and openness to foreign capital should fit (if at all) into a country’s development strategy. Moreover, opinions are divided over who are the winners and losers when such policies are pursued. We examine the various sides of these debates and ask how a political economy perspective helps us understand them.

For the final two weeks, we turn to the issues of corporate social responsibility and the role of NGOs in development.  Again, we use a political economy perspective to reflect on the promises and pitfalls of both as vehicles of progressive change in global development.

On completing this course it is envisaged that students will have:

• A solid grounding in the political economy of development
• An ability to present and evaluate some of the key debates over development strategy, from trade liberalization to the role of NGOs and global finance
• A conceptualization of the power relations between the various actors that shape the processes and outcomes of global development
• A clear understanding of the functions (past and present) of the three key institutions in global development: the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and World Trade Organisation (WTO)

Online discussion forums will take place each week to provide a space for you to discuss the key debates around the topic and allow you to explore the week’s material with your peers in order to improve your understanding. The forums will be an opportunity to discuss the readings and to clarify the main points of contention between them. You will be expected to elaborate on what the strengths of the readings are, how they relate to each other, and how they help us understand the issue at hand.

Lesson Schedule

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More information:

• Computer Requirements and Internet Access
• Moodle, Our Online Learning Environment 
• Academic Integrity
• Evaluation
• Suggested Time Commitment
• Required Material