Overview

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Academic contacts

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Offerings

MURDOCH-S1-EXT-2021-ONGOING
MURDOCH-S1-INT-2020-ONGOING
MURDOCH-S2-INT-2018-2019

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Enrolment rules

Enrolment in a graduate-level course.

Other learning activities

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Learning activities

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate a sound knowledge of key theories and concepts relating to the politics of development, and the state’s role within this, and understand how these have manifested within the orthodoxy and practice of international development assistance.

2.

Develop the skills to undertake political economy analysis of aid and development policy and issues.

3.

Develop research skills to undertake a major piece of research.

4.

Communicate understandings of politics, state and development in a critical and clear manner through both written assignments and participation in seminars.

Assessments

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Additional information

Unit content:

The unit examines political contestations over development projects, strategies and missions, the social forces that underpin these projects, and the state structures through which these contestations take place. The unit explores the relationship between transnational structures and transformations of social power, and the implications for developmental programs and projects. The question is: why do development projects and strategies succeed or fail? Answering this question means grappling with the politics of developmental projects - who wins, who loses, what ideas gain traction, and when - and the role of political and economic crisis in generating reform responses. The unit has a significant component on gender and development. 'Gender' is a mainstream development concern. Yet there are significant debates over how gender is understood and operationalized in policy and practice. This unit covers the theoretical and political issues involved in these debates - the different gender goals being advanced, for what reasons and how.