This course tackles a series of big questions about economic growth and development. What hinders progress towards wealth and wellbeing in the Global South? What models of development are available to these states and what role does the Global North play in shaping their opportunities for growth? How do leadership, corruption, and violence impede these processes? And what prospects and challenges do climate change, technology and migration hold for citizens of the countries?
The above list of questions is ambitious and yet far from exhaustive. We take as our unifying theme the central role of political order in generating or suppressing opportunities for growth and well-being. Students should leave the class with an understanding of the core challenges faced by citizens and politicians in the Global South as well as for the history of development theory up until the present.
Course Restrictions: Students who take PS 140Z with Prof. Wilfahrt cannot ALSO take PS 191 with Prof. Bussell due to the substantial similarity in course content.