Political Science 407I Politics and Problems of Developing Areas Spring 2008 John P. Tuman Wright Hall A-212 Phone: 895-3754 email: [email protected] Office Hours: T/TH 12:50PM-2:20PM This course focuses on the politics and problems of developing areas. The first part of the course examines the major theoretical approaches to explain development and underdevelopment in the Third World. The second part of the course provides an overview of selected policy issues and problems in developing countries, with a focus on democratization, revolution and political violence, health promotion, and environmental degradation. Requirements and Policies Lecture and Discussion: The class will meet on Tuesday from 4 to 6:45PM in Wright Hall C237 for lectures and discussion. Students are expected to finish all of the assigned readings and to be prepared for group discussion. Participation counts for 5% of the final grade. Exams, Papers, and Grading: The first exam will be given February 26. The final exam is on May 13 at 6PM in Wright Hall C237. In addition, students are required to write a short research paper (10-12 pp.); the paper is due on April 22. Guidelines for the paper will be given in class. Exam 1 is worth 25% of the final grade, while the research paper and the final exam each count for 35% of the final grade. Make-up exams will be given only if the student can demonstrate she/he was absent due to illness or participation in an official university function. Students must provide an excuse in writing from a licensed health care provider r from a university administrator. o University Policy for Students with Disabilities: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require special arrangements to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make necessary accommodations. Pursuant to UNLV policy, students must present appropriate verification from the Disability Resource Center in order to receive accommodations (Room 137, Reynolds Student Services enter; 895-0866 [TDD 895-0652]). C Observance of Religious Holidays: Students who miss class due toobservance of a religious holiday shall be given the opportunity to make up the missed class. Please notify the instructor no later than the end of the first week of class if you will miss class due to observance of a religious holiday. Contact via E-mail: A new UNLV policy requires students to use Rebelmail accounts when they contact faculty via e-mail. As the official e-mail system for students, Rebelmail is available to all students who have been admitted to the university. Non-matriculated students should contact the Office of Information Technology at UNLV students for assistance. Readings: Most of the required readings for this course are on reserve on the Lied Library and are accessible through the web at http://ereserves.library.unlv.edu/eres/default.aspx. E-reserve readings are designated “ER” in the syllabus. Some readings are also available through library databases, such as Academic Search Elite Project Muse (available at http://library.unlv.edu/search/databases/index.html). 1/26 1/29 Introduction The Concept of Development; Contemporary Situation of the Developing World Begin readings for 1/29 (1) Brian S. Smith, “The Idea of a Third World,” in ER; Amartya Sen, “The Concept in Development,” in ER. (2) John T. Passe-Smith, “The Persistence of the Gap Between Poor and Rich Countries,” in ER; (3) Joseph Stiglitz, “Freedom to Choose?” Suggested: Joseph Stiglitz, “The Promise of Global Institutions,” in ER.2/5 Theoretical Perspectives: Cultural (1) Herman Kahn, “Confucian Ethic and Economic Growth,” in ER; (2) Oscar Lewis, “Culture of Poverty,” in ER; (3) Jim Granato, Ronald Inglehart and David Leblang, “Effect of Cultural Values on Economic Development,” in ER. 2/12 Theoretical Perspectives: Historical-Structural & World Systems (1) Brian S. Smith, “Neocolonialism and Dependency,” in ER; (2) Immanuel Wallerstein, “The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System,” in ER; (3) William I. Robinson, “Transnational Processes, Development Studies, and Changing Hierarchies in the World System,” Third World Quarterly (2001), in Academic Search Elite database. Suggested: T dos Santos, “The Structure of Dependence,” in ER 2/19 Theoretical Perspectives: State-Centered & Neoliberal (1) Brian S. Smith, “The State in the Third World,” in ER; (2) Peter Evans, “The State,” in ER. (3) John Rapley, “The Neoclassical Answer to Failure,” in ER. Suggested: Dietrich Rueschemeyer and Peter Evans, “The State and Economic Transformation,” in ER. 2/26 Exam 1 3/4 Theoretical Perspectives: Gender & Development (1) Saskia Sassen, “Global Cities and Survival Circuits,” in ER; (2) Drucilla Barker and Susan F. Feiner, “Globalization is a Feminist Issue,” in ER; Suggested: Jasper Goss, “Postcolonialism: Subverting Whose Empire?,” Third World Quarterly (1996), in Academic Search Premier 3/11 Democratization in Developing Areas (1) Brian S. Smith, “Democratization in the Third World,” in ER; (2) Adam Przeworski, “Transitions to Democracy,” in ER. Suggested: Larry Diamond, “Can the Whole World Become Democratic?” Center for Study of Democracy, Stanford, available at: http:// repositories.cdlinb.org/csd/03-05 3/18 Spring Break 3/25 Democratization – continued. (1) Brennan Kraxberger, “Failed States: Temporary Obstacles to Democratic Diffusion or Permanent Holes in the World Political Map?” Third World Quarterly 28, no. 6 (2007), in Article First Database; (2) Minxin Pei, “How Will China Democratize?” Journal of Democracy 18, no. 3 (2007), in Article First or Project Muse database; (3) Anwar Ibrahim, “Universal Values and Muslim Democracy,” Journal of Democracy 17, no. 3 (2006), in Article First or Project Muse database; (4) BBC News Service, “Kenya Crisis Talks End in Failure,” January 10, 2008, stable URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7181184.stm Suggested: Mark Plattner and Sumit Gunguly, “India’s Unlikely Democracy,” Journal of Democracy 18, no. 2 (2007), in Article First or Project 4/1 Revolution & (1) Brian S. Smith, “Instability and Revolution,” inPolitical Violence ER; (2) Theda Skocpol, “Explaining Revolutions: In Quest of a Social Structural Approach,” in ER. 4/8 Revolution & Political Violence--continued (1) Timothy Wickham-Crowley,