Syllabus for Political Science
340
Politics of Developing Areas
Christopher L. Ball, Lecturer
clb5@iastate.edu
Dept. of Political Science
Office Hours: MW,
517 Ross Hall
Phone: 515.294.4652
This course examines leading issues in the politics of the
developing world. Developing areas are home to 84 percent of the world’s
population but produce only 20 percent of the world’s wealth, measured in terms
of goods and services. Most of the current armed conflicts occur in the
developing world. In this course, we will first explore the intertwined issue
of state-building, nationalism, and democratization as they affect developing
countries. Then, we will examine the causes and consequences of civil war and
state failure for economic development. Next, we will focus on the challenges
facing contemporary
All students must do the assigned reading. I reserve the right to distribute unannounced in-class quizzes on the assigned readings for the week. In addition to course readings, students should follow current events. The New York Times, The Washington Post or National Public Radio (NPR) news broadcasts (on WOI 640 AM and KTPR 91.1 FM) are excellent daily news sources. I will also post items on the course website.
The main course website is at this URL: <http://www.public.iastate.edu/~pol_s.340>. I will post slides displayed in class, relevant links, and information about the course. There is a WebCT site as well. This will be used to post assigned articles, host a discussion forum, and post grades.
Class Participation: All students should be prepared to participate in class discussions. Each student has a D as his or her default grade. If students participate well, their grades will be increased. Students who fail to participate or who do so poorly will get a D. I will call on students in class by name on a rotating basis. Responses to these questions count toward class participation. Participation is worth 10% of the course grade.
Students are not expected to perform Periclean orations, but everyone should be prepared to discuss the assigned readings, current events, and question that I pose. Criticisms of points made in readings, by fellow students, and by yours truly are welcome, and debates may emerge among students. Students should respect their classmates’ contributions, and refrain from partisan or parochial philippics. The purpose of these discussions is not to win imaginary debating points, but to learn beyond solitary reading and unexamined listening.
In-Class Tests: There will be three in-class short-answer tests. The average of the three grades is worth 50% of the course grade. The test dates are 25 Sep., 27 Oct., and 17 Nov.
Final Exam: A cumulative final exam is worth 40% of the course grade.
A computer mishap will not excuse a late paper. You should make frequent and multiple back-ups of your work (to at least 2 separate floppy disks or other removable media), so that you never lose more than one hour’s worth of work. If you own your own computer, be sure you familiarize yourself with the ISU’s computer labs in case your system breaks down.
Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
· Participation: 10%
· In-class Tests: 50%
· Final Exam: 40%
Each component will be assigned a letter grade, converted to a grade point, and multiplied by its percentage weighting. I do not accept make-up assignments, re-writing of papers, or extra-credit work.
exams is failure for the course.
ISU advises: “If a student has a disability that qualifies
under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Disability Resources
(DR) office for information on appropriate policies and procedures. DR is
located on the main floor of the
There are no books for purchase assigned for this course. Instead, we will read recent academic articles and a few newspaper publications. Most of the reading will be posted on the WebCT site as PDF files; others are accessible via a URL listed after the article. Other, shorter articles will be posted to the WebCT discussion forum during the semester. The readings listed here may change during the semester so do not print out readings more than two weeks ahead without first checking with me.
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21, 23 & 25 Aug.
The Politics of
Development and Developing Politics
Amartya Sen, “The diverse ancestry of democracy”
Financial Times.
Jeffrey Sachs, “The End of Poverity,”
Time
28 & 30 Aug. & 1 Sep.
Democratization in the Developing World
Larry Diamond, “Can the Whole
World Become Democratic? Democracy, Development, and International Policies” (
Anwar Ibrahim,
“Universal Values and Muslim Democracy,” Journal
of Democracy 17.3 (July 2006) WebCT
6 & 8 Sep. (No Class on 4 Sep.)
Building the
Lisa Anderson, “Antiquated Before They Can Ossify: States
that Fail Before They Form,” Journal of
International Affairs 58:1 (Fall 2004) WebCT
Mark Berger, “From nation-building to state-building: The
geopolitics of development, the nation-state system and the changing global
order,” Third World Quarterly 27:1
(February 2006) WebCT
11, 13 & 15 Sep.
Nation-Building
and the
Sumantra Bose, “De-Colonization and
Nicola Miller, “The historiography of nationalism and
national identity in
Eghosa E. Osaghae,
“Democracy and National Cohesion in Multiethnic African States:
18, 20 & 22 Sep.
War and State-Making
Jeffrey Herbst, “War and the
State in
Stein Eriksen, “The Congo war
and the prospects for state formation:
25, 27 & 29 Sep. (1st Test, 25 Sep.)
Markets and Civil Society
Caroline M. Cooper, “‘This is Our Way In’: The Civil
Society of Environmental NGOs in South-West
Pasuk Phongpaichit
& Chris Baker, “‘Business Populism’ in
2, 4 & 6 Oct.
Failed States
William Reno, “The Politics of Violent Opposition in
Collapsing States,” Government and
Opposition 40:2 (Spring 2005) WebCT
Jeffrey Herbst, “Responding to
State Failure in
9, 11 & 13 Oct.
The Causes of Civil Wars
Jenny Pearce, “Policy Failure and Petroleum Predation:
The Economics of Civil War Debate Viewed ‘From the War-Zone,’” Government and Opposition 40:2 (Spring
2005) WebCT
Paul Collier & Anke Hoeffler, “Resource Rents, Governance, and Conflict,”
Journal of Conflict
Resolution 49:4 (August 2005) WebCT
16, 18 & 20 Oct.
Ending Civil Wars
Michael Barnett, “Building a Republican Peace:
Stabilizing States after War,” International
Security 30:4 (Spring 2006) WebCT
Daniel Chirot, “The Debacle in
23 & 25 Oct. (2nd Test 27 Oct.) & 30 Oct. & 1 & 3 Nov.
Elizabeth Rubin, “In the Land of the
Taliban,” The New York Times Magazine.
Seth G. Jones, “Averting Failure in
Rory Stewart, "Even in
Yahia Said, "
6, 8 & 10 Nov.
Globalization and Development I
Survey:
“Thirsty Giant” series. The
New York Times 28 & 30 Sep. &
13, 15 & 17 Nov. (3rd Test, 17 Nov.)
Globalization and Development II
Denis M. Tull, "
“Never to Late to Scramble,” The Economist
Thanksgiving Recess
27 & 29 Nov. & 1 Dec.
Globalization and Development III
Jennifer Clapp, “WTO Agriculture negotiations: implications for the Global South,” Third World Quarterly 27:4 (May 2006) WebCT
Devesh Kapur & Moisés Naím, “The IMF and Democratic Governance,” Journal of Democracy 16.1 (January 2005) WebCT
4, 6 & 8 Dec.
Conclusions
Emil Uddhammar, “Development,
conservation and tourism: conflict or symbiosis?” Review of International Political Economy 13:4 (October 2006) WebCT
“Down in the Woods” The
Economist