International Development and Politics

In our increasingly globalised world, these problems are growing in complexity and significance. The Sustainable Development Goals aim to tackle these challenges by 2030, but this will require global effort, co-ordination and vision.

This course combines a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of international development with core disciplinary training in politics, power and political economy. You will examine contested debates on democracy and development, the role of patronage in development, and the politics of social exclusion. You will apply political theories to a variety of examples of development and change from across the world, and critically examine different forms of development assistance.

You will apply a political lens to understanding and addressing the challenges of global development and learn how development is affected by politics at all levels, from the political economy of international assistance, to domestic politics and local power dynamics. You will explore the implications of politics for poverty, conflict and inequality through a range of case studies and practical exercises.

Why study this course? On this course you will:

-Gain knowledge and understanding of key global challenges, and explore a variety of real-world examples of international development and change. -Have an opportunity to see international development in practice, through a study visit to a low or middle-income country. -Focus on your professional development through practical exercises and projects, with the option of taking up a work placement in your second year. -Be taught by academics engaged in research on a range of global challenges and impacting international policies and debates in their field. -Benefit from an enquiry-based learning approach, designed to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills essential for working in development.