Course information

Introduction

This module explore the logic of development states as planners for development in societies where the interaction between private and public agents in the market, state and society can generate different shades of development. A central idea is that capitalist market failures are pervasive and therefore the state must attempt correcting them and also correct government failures. Debates over state/society, state/markets and state/markets/society relations will be reviewed. Its main conceptual framework encapsulates the dynamic of two interrelated socio-economic systems: A) capitalist development and the state, and B) the national and international synergies created by the interaction between markets, civil society and the state and its effects on planning for development. Case studies will be included where necessary.

Aims

This module seeks to familiarize the student with the role of the state (agents and institutions) as a leader-facilitator of economic and social development in African, Asian and Latin American and Caribbean social formations from the end of the Second World War. Another goal is to familiarize the student with the opportunities and constraints posed by the global integrated process of production to planning for independent styles of development.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the module, the student will be able to:

• understand contemporary economic and political perspectives and theories on the state;
• explain the role of these in the relative successes and failures of state led development attempts in different social formations, and
• build conceptual frameworks necessary to planning for development in the contemporary system of fragmented global production under semi-unified management and diverging political systems.

Operation

The module will consist of a weekly lecture followed by a group exercise, role-play or seminar-based discussion to explore specific issues raised in the lecture. All students are expected to either make a seminar presentation as part of a small group or to actively participate in a role-play exercise.

This module, DA5 The Developmental State, operates in parallel with DA6 Society & Market. Both are first-term modules, and students are required to select one or the other. Some sessions will held in combination, with all students present for the same lecture or exercise.

Assessment: Each student will be expected to submit one piece of coursework, in the form of a 2,500-word essay, in order to familiarise themselves with the main issues as they are explored in the module. The essay will account for 100% of the total module marks and is to be handed in on Monday 13 January, 2014. An electronic version should be submitted via Turnitin by 9.45am and a hard copy to the admin office (G01) by 1.45pm.

Programme

This module is broken up into 4 parts. The first 3 sessions will serve as an introduction to the general and overarching themes of the module (e.g. Planning for development and the state; Keynes, Prebisch et al: a basic theoretical framework; Competing models of economic organization: 1. markets; 2. social markets; and 3. state capitalism, and the creation of poverty, inequality and social injustice.). Following the introductory sections, the sessions will be divided geographically and thematically. Part A will focus on Latin America and the Caribbean: structuralism, dependency and new structuralism; Part B—Asia: the geopolitics of development; and finally Part C addresses Africa: the scramble for natural resources and beyond.

Course materials are selected to introduce students to both critical and supportive arguments pertaining to each of these approaches. Lectures and seminar sessions will encourage debate on the merits of different positions.

Readings

Participants are expected to have read the core readings before each session. Readings are listed below (core readings are those listed as “Essential” and “Seminar” readings) and, as far as possible, digital versions of each reading are included in the online study pack available on Moodle. This module covers a large range of material, and it is very important that you read the relevant core readings prior to each session if you are to gain the most from the module.

A list of supplementary readings is also provided below (they are listed as “Highly recommended readings” and “Background readings”) which you may find useful where you wish to delve more deeply into specific topics. This list of supplementary readings is by no means exhaustive; it merely provides an indication of possible starting points. There is also a great deal of easily downloadable case study material on the internet and a wealth of books are available through the library system. UCL provides excellent access to electronic journals (an introductory session on the use of libraries and electronic resources is provided at the start of Term 1). Students are expected to make full use of these facilities, as the development of effective personal research and study skills is an integral part of the MSc. Moodle is also an ideal means of sharing suggested readings and other material with fellow students. Supplementary digitised reading packs will be available throughout the academic year at  www.rrojasdatabank.info/supplepack.htm.

A  massive amount of readings on Planning for Development are available at “The Róbinson Rojas Archive” (www.rrojasdataban.info)