This subject will explore theoretical and practical issues related to the politics and governance of international development. Development is by its nature a process of social change, one which requires an understanding of the inner-politics of change: that is, how actors (individuals and groups) in society interact in different contexts to address social issues, and how social movements operate to bring about progressive and transformational change at the domestic, regional and international levels. There will be two thematic arcs for this course. The first theme is governance of social change, and the interactions between different actors in the production of social policy. The second theme is the politics of development. The teaching team will introduce students to current thinking around the politics of aid and development more generally, and discuss some of the attempts and difficulties faced by development agencies in attempting to address global issues such as the arms trade treaty, debt and climate change.

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