Behörighetskrav

Kandidatexamen med 60 p/90 hp från ämnesområde inom samhällsvetenskaplig fakultet (Social Sciences).

Endast för studenter på masterprogram inom samhällsvetenskaplig fakultet. För programstudenter antagna till Masterprogrammet i politik och internationella studier och Masterprogrammet i utvecklingsstudier krävs att programkurser om minst 15 hp är avklarade.

Mål

The course will provide the students with an understanding of the latest research relating to comparative local politics. Innovative research methods will be introduced along with a focus on explanations for how the livelihoods of ordinary people can be improved.

After the course the students should:

- Be able to account for relevant theories and policy trends on governance, decentralisation, development and poverty

- Have an understanding of innovative research methods and design relating to the course subjects

- Have established a more elaborated understanding of local government institutions and the way they impact on development, empowerment and poverty

- Be able to discuss in greater detail the causes for why people slip back into poverty - and how this can be prevented

- Analyse the relationship between decentralisation and development from a comparative politics perspective

- Be able to account for the major trends within the international development cooperation agenda and the Paris Declaration process.

Innehåll

This course will deal with international development theory and challenge the broad assumption that "good governance" will deliver development at the local level. Governance reform has in various ways been on the agenda for some 20 years in developing countries and among development actors without the emergence of clear and undisputed knowledge as to what forms of governance actually promotes and delivers development at the local level. This course will not attempt to address all issues related to the governance and development nexus. The focus will be on what forms of sub-national institutions and mechanisms that promotes collective action and empowerment, and that fights poverty among citizens and local communities.

The international development cooperation agenda and process will be a specific sub-theme during the course. Where relevant, students will relate academic research to ongoing development cooperation initiatives that aims to address issues of politics, development and poverty reduction. A specific focus will be put on the ongoing process of implantation of the Paris Declaration of Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Action Plan.

By adopting a comparative perspective combined with a few in-depth case studies - and innovative research design and experimental methods - we will closely examine emerging knowledge and lessons learned that contribute to a better understanding of local development and poverty reduction.

Undervisning

The language of lectures and seminars is English. All written assignments will be in English. Regarding the written exam, answers must be given in English.