Political Economy of Development (DEVT90045)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject considers processes of development through a political economic perspective. The subject begins by considering the historical roots of political economy, and then focuses on key theoretical debates in the field. It then moves on to consider several contemporary development issues, highlighting the ways in which political economic analysis provides new, critical insight. Key topics to be considered include the following: wealth and inequality; feminist and queer critiques; labour and exploitation; political ecology and natural resources; the limitations of social policy; green and carbon economies; surplus and waste; the effects of globalisation and migration; sustainability and diverse economies. By the end of this subject, students should have a clear understanding for what political economic analysis adds to debates over contemporary development.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have:
- Strengthened their understanding of the choices involved in setting goals for development policy and their sense of priorities for national strategy formation
- Gained a thorough knowledge of the underlying assumptions, intellectual strengths and critiques of neo-liberal economics and of alternatives being advocated and attempted
- Grown in understanding of the diversity of experience of developing countries through comparative case studies
- Increased their capacity to discern the political and economic forces driving various approaches to development strategy and of the means through which they work
- Strengthened their analytical capacity to understand complex issues of national development strategy and to formulate more cost-effective steps towards equitable economic and social development
- Be able to write persuasively about conceptual and normative aspects of national and international political, economic, financial and social issues
- This will be an analytical and applied seminar aiming to enhance understanding of views about national and international development strategies. Each session will include both teaching and small group and whole of class discussion. Students will be encouraged to identify issues which they would like to discuss.
Generic skills
Students are expected to grow in capacity for effective participation in class discussion, in small group work and in essay writing through:
- Undertaking an adequate amount of reading and research about the prescribed topics using appropriate material
- Speaking and writing lucidly, relevantly and coherently, using appropriate material
- Demonstrating comprehension of the material read and studied for class, and during preparation for essays
- Showing evidence of imaginative, creative and principled thought
- Identifying the main issues involved in a subject and to explain them comprehensively and effectively
- Writing a succinct and clear introduction to an essay and developing the argument in a rigorous, logical and well organised manner
- Completing essays with a justified and well expressed conclusion
- Writing lucidly, with accurate spelling and grammar.
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
This subject is core in the Master of Development Studies, and Head of Program approval is required for enrolment by Community Access Program (CAP), Inbound Exchange/Study Abroad or Incoming Cross-institutional students.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEVT90009 | Development Theories | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An essay due after Week 5 of semester.
| After Week 5 of semester. | 40% |
An essay
| During the examination period | 60% |
| Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Alex D'Aloia Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 24 contact hours: A 2-hour seminar for 12 weeks Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Admission to 097-AB Master of Development Studies or MC-IR Master of International Relations.
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 8 November 2024