Logic of wealth and poverty
Billions of people today still live in poverty. A society can hardly be considered "good" if most people barely live on one dollar a day. This seminar will examine issues of development as a key aspect of "good society."
If everyone wants development, why is it so hard to achieve? Why are some countries rich and others poor? We will examine causes of the wealth and poverty of nations. Does geography matter? Do colonial legacies have a long-lasting impact? Why are resource-rich countries poor? Does ethnic diversity hinder growth? Are democracies good for development? Are rich countries responsible for the problems of the less-well-to-do world?
We will approach the politics of poverty and development by understanding the "political logic" that makes a poor nation poor. Specifically, poor governance, corruption, rent-seeking, deadlocked legislatures are all seen as major obstacles to rational development policymaking whereas democracy and rule of law have practical significance for the well-being of a community.
In this section, students will continue to explore such themes addressed in PACS 01 as "Civil Society" and "Citizenship and the State" as we emphasize the implications of social and political institutions for development.
Readings will consist mostly of scholarly journal articles.
Students are expected to write several short response papers as well as to do a research project on the politics of development either at the local or national level.
