Political Economy and Sociology of Development

Key information

Credits: 30
Department: Department of Development Studies

Module overview

This is an Online and Distance Learning (ODL) module

This is the core module for the MSc International Development. It draws on the long-standing success of our on-campus MSc Development Studies degree. The Political Economy and Sociology of Development equips students with a thorough theoretical understanding of development studies, drawing on the key disciplines of sociology and economics. The module is founded on the history of thought on development studies, identifying and critiquing the intellectual journey, trends, the associated policies and the dominance of the neoliberal agenda in development policy and practice.

Topics include:

Imposing and inventing development
National development, the state and planning
Neoliberalism and good governance
Gender and the development paradigm
Alternative development
Poverty, PRSPs and beyond
Measuring development
Inequality – national and international
Neoclassical economics
Marxism and structuralism
New institutionalism and the Washington Consensus
Industrialisation and growth
Labour and labour markets

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:

present a critical understanding of the main economic, political and sociological theories of development
understand core policy issues of development internationally and nationally, and of proposals for their practical solution
combine theoretical knowledge with case study/empirical knowledge
analyse and explain data problems in developing countries, with an awareness of different research methodologies, including case studies, quantitative analysis, and surveys.