GV216-5-SP-CO:
Development, N.G.Os and Foreign Aid
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2024/25
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Inactive
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
19 May 2022
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
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BA L900 International Development
This module examines international development and foreign aid combining theory, empirics and practice.
In the first part of the module, we examine theories and concepts of development and the evaluation of development interventions. We then focus in on foreign aid.
The second part of the module examines the policies and politics of foreign aid from the perspective of donor countries, international organizations and recipient countries.
The third part of the module examines the, sometimes controversial, role of foreign aid in three issue areas: international security, migration and global health.
Throughout the module, we examine a range of N.G.O. development programmes and their outcomes and, finally, students are given a chance to develop a proposal for a development programme of their own.
This module aims to give students:
1. An introduction to theories and concepts of international development, including those used in practical settings by NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and researchers.
2. A multifaceted understanding of foreign aid, by examining three different perspectives: donor countries, intergovernmental organizations and international NGOs, and recipient countries.
3. An examination of important debates in foreign aid through the lens of three important issue areas.
By the end of this module, students will have:
1. A detailed understanding of key concepts and theories of international development.
2. A critical awareness of the various actors and perspectives in the study of international development.
3. Critical problem-solving skills applied to difficult issues in international development.
No additional information available.
1 x 2 hour seminar per week
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Haynes, J. (2008) ‘What is Development?’, in Development studies. Cambridge: Polity, pp. 1–17.
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Robeyns, I. (no date) ‘The Capability Approach in Practice*’,
Journal of Political Philosophy, 14(3), pp. 351–376. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2006.00263.x.
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Alesina, A. and Dollar, D. (no date) ‘Who Gives Foreign Aid to Whom and Why?’,
Journal of Economic Growth, 5(1), pp. 33–63. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/40216022.
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Hertz, N. (no date) ‘Why We Must Defuse The Debt Threat’,
Contributions to Political Economy, 24(1), pp. 123–133. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/cpe/bzi006.
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Johansson, P. (no date) ‘Debt Relief, Investment and Growth’,
World Development, 38(9), pp. 1204–1216. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2009.11.021.
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Easterly, W. (no date b) ‘How Did Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Become Heavily Indebted? Reviewing Two Decades of Debt Relief’,
World Development, 30(10), pp. 1677–1696. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(02)00073-6.
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Karns, M.P., Mingst, K.A. and Stiles, K.W. (2015) ‘Promoting Economic Well-Being and Human Development’, in International organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. 3rd edn. Boulder, US: Lynne Rienner Publishers, pp. 425–466.
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Dietrich, S. (no date) ‘Bypass or Engage? Explaining Donor Delivery Tactics in Foreign Aid Allocation*’,
International Studies Quarterly, 57(4), pp. 698–712. Available at:
https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=92886740&site=ehost-live&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.
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Banks, N. and Hulme, D. (2012) ‘The Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Development and Poverty Reduction’,
Brooks World Poverty Institute Working Papers. Manchester, UK: University of Manchester. Available at:
https://www.gdi.manchester.ac.uk/research/publications/gdi-working-papers/bwpi-wp17112/.
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Green, D. (2012) ‘Introduction’, in
From Poverty to Power: How Active Citizens and Effective States Can Change the World. 2nd edn. Rugby, UK: Practical Action, pp. 1–14. Available at:
https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/from-poverty-to-power-2nd-edition-how-active-citizens-and-effective-states-can-249411/.
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Ezrow, N., Frantz, E. and Kendall-Taylor, A. (2016b) ‘Foreign Aid and NGOs’, in
Development and the State in the 21st Century: Tackling the Challenges Facing the Developing World. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 278–301. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/reader.action?docID=4763198&ppg=291.
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Rutzen, D. (no date) ‘Authoritarianism Goes Global (II): Civil Society Under Assault’,
Journal of Democracy, 26(4), pp. 28–39. Available at:
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/595920.
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Clemens, M.A. and Postel, H.M. (2018) ‘Deterring Emigration with Foreign Aid: An Overview of Evidence from Low-Income Countries’. Washington, US: Center for Global Development. Available at:
https://www.cgdev.org/publication/deterring-emigration-foreign-aid-overview-evidence-low-income-countries.
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Raty, T. and Shilhav, R. (2020) ‘The EU Trust Fund for Africa: Trapped Between Aid Policy and Migration Politics’. Nairobi, KE: Oxfam. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.21201/2020.5532.
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Rubenstein, J.C. (2015) ‘The Problem of Spattered Hands’, in
Between Samaritans and States: The Political Ethics of Humanitarian INGOs. 1st edn. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, pp. 87–114. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199684106.003.0004.
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Goodhand, J. and Chamberlain, P. (no date) ‘“Dancing with the Prince”: NGO’s Survival Strategics in the Afghan Conflict’,
Development in Practice, 6(3), pp. 196–207. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4029114.
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Hübler, M. (no date) ‘The Future of Foreign Aid in a Globalizing World with Climate Change’,
Global Policy, 8(1), pp. 41–51. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12351.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Miranda Simon, email: miranda.simon@essex.ac.uk.
Dr. Miranda Simon
Module Supervisor: Miranda Simon - miranda.simon@essex.ac.uk /
Module Administrator: Jasini Hobbs - govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Edward Morgan-Jones
University of Kent
Reader in Comparative Politics
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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