Developing Countries/Africa in the Global World

elective courses

Classroom

Any student who completes the course should have a very good knowledge of the present day developing and African countries with particular reference to their economic, social and political role in the global world.

Prerequisites:

Basic high school knowledge of geography and general interest in current international political, economic and social relations with particular reference to developing countries and possibly some focus on African countries. However, if students are interested in other developing regions, they will also be welcome to attend the classes.

Objectives of the course:

Any student who completes the course should have a very good knowledge of the present day developing/African countries with particular reference to their economic, social

and political roles in the global world.

Course contents:

The course focuses on theoretical economic, social and cultural issues of the developing countries and their role in the global world. All the theories studied will be supported by a number of the country cases in which the lecturer had run his research or consultancy over a number of years. The detailed course outline will be handed over to students

for possible alterations during the first class meeting.

However, the basic areas covered in the course will include:

1. Comparative picture of various developing regions and their role in contemporary world.

2. Basic development theories both classical as well as contemporary models of development and underdevelopment.

3. Domestic problems and policies of developing countries, such as: poverty and inequality, demographic aspects of development, including health (tropical diseases as well as HIV/AIDS), urbanization and rural migration, human capital in development, economic transformation from agriculture to industry and services, as well as the roles of market, state and civil societies.

4. International aspects of development including trade theory, and various trade policy debates, foreign finance, investment and developmental aid.

The course is based on the popular textbooks and readings in development literature such as:

1. M.P. Todaro, S. C. Smith, Economic Development, Pearson, 2009.

2. V. Mahajan, Africa Rising, Pearson, 2009.

3. R. Dowden, Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, Portobello, 2008.

4. Szirmai, The Dynamics of Socio-Economic Development, Cambridge, 2005.

5. D. Ray, Development Economics, Princeton, 1998.

Assessment methods:

50% of the final mark - coursework (presentations and class participation),

50% of the final mark - oral examination.