City University of Hong Kong

Course Syllabus

offered Department of of Asian and International Studies

with effect from Semester A 2017 /18

Part I Course Overview

Course Title: Theories of Development

Course Code: AIS 3123

Course Duration: One semester

Credit Units: 3

Level: B3
Arts and Humanities
Study of Societies, Social and Business Organisations
Proposed Area:
(for GE courses only) Science and Technology

Medium of
Instruction: English

Medium of
Assessment: English

Prerequisites: Nil
(Course Code and Title)

Precursors: Nil
(Course Code and Title)

Equivalent Courses: Nil

(Course Code and Title)

Exclusive Courses: Nil

(Course Code and Title)

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
 Part II Course Details

1. Abstract

This course explores the processes, actors and ideologies that make up ‘development’. The course will teach
some of the keys theories and long-standing debates in the history of development practice and thought,
but always in reference to current events. Reflecting the overall content of your programme and the current
state of the global economy, the course takes an Asian-centred approach.

2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

(CILOs state what the student is expected to be able to do at the end of the course according to a given standard of
performance.)

No. CILOs# Weighting* Discovery-enriched

(if curriculum related
applicable) learning outcomes
(please tick where
appropriate)
A1 A2 A3
1. Identify and critically evaluate the main theoretical √
perspectives in Development Studies
2. Differentiate various factors as explanatory variables and √
understand the role of particular actors
3. Apply theoretical perspectives to practical cases √
4. Reflect critically upon current development practice √
5. Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a team √
6. Demonstrate the ability to accomplish discovery √
* If weighting is assigned to CILOs, they should add up to 100%. 100%
#
Please specify the alignment of CILOs to the Gateway Education Programme Intended Learning outcomes
(PILOs) in Section A of Annex.

A1: Attitude
Develop an attitude of discovery/innovation/creativity, as demonstrated by students possessing a strong
sense of curiosity, asking questions actively, challenging assumptions or engaging in inquiry together
with teachers.
A2: Ability
Develop the ability/skill needed to discover/innovate/create, as demonstrated by students possessing
critical thinking skills to assess ideas, acquiring research skills, synthesizing knowledge across disciplines
or applying academic knowledge to self-life problems.
A3: Accomplishments
Demonstrate accomplishment of discovery/innovation/creativity through producing /constructing
creative works/new artefacts, effective solutions to real-life problems or new processes.

3. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)

(TLAs designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs.)

TLA Brief Description CILO No. Hours/week

1 2 3 4 5 6 (if applicable)
1-4 Lectures and exercises led by √ √ √ √
instructor
1-6 Seminar exercises, discussion and √ √ √ √ √ √
group work
1-6 Quizzes and tests √ √ √ √ √ √

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
 4. Assessment Tasks/Activities (ATs)
(ATs are designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs.)

Assessment Tasks/Activities CILO No. Weighting* Remarks

1 2 3 4 5 6
Continuous Assessment: ____%
Tutorial participation and √ √ √ √ √ √ 30%
attendance
Midterm quiz √ √ √ √ √ √ 30%
Final test √ √ √ √ √ √ 40%
Examination: ____% (duration: , if applicable)
* The weightings should add up to 100%. 100%

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
5. Assessment Rubrics
(Grading of student achievements is based on student performance in assessment tasks/activities with the following rubrics.)

Assessment Task Criterion Excellent Good Fair Marginal Failure

(A+, A, A-) (B+, B, B-) (C+, C, C-) (D) (F)
1. Tutorial Quality and quantity of Highly active Active Satisfactory Barely satisfactory Rarely participate in
participation and students’ contributions to participation in participation in participation in participation in class. class.
attendance the class. class. class. class.
2. Midterm quiz Understand/critique/apply Excellent Good command Adequate Limited command of Poor command of
theories, readings and command of of theories, command of theories, readings and theories, readings and
cases discussed in the theories, readings readings and theories, readings cases. cases..
course. and cases. cases.. and cases.
3. Final test Understand/critique/apply Excellent Good command Adequate Limited command of Poor command of
theories, readings and command of of theories, command of theories, readings and theories, readings and
cases discussed in the theories, readings readings and theories, readings cases. cases..
course. and cases. cases.. and cases.

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
Part III Other Information (more details can be provided separately in the teaching plan)

1. Keyword Syllabus
(An indication of the key topics of the course.)
Course content: Defining development; the map of global development; the human dimension - inclusion and
exclusion; approaches and actors; international organizations and the global governance of development; Asian
models and approaches’ the role of the private sector; regional integration and South-South cooperation;
sustainability.

Teaching and learning activities: lectures, seminars, short written assignments, wiki-based group work; reflective
log.

2. Reading List
2.1 Compulsory Readings
(Compulsory readings can include books, book chapters, or journal/magazine articles. There are also collections of
e-books, e-journals available from the CityU Library.)

1.
2.
3.
…

2.2 Additional Readings

(Additional references for students to learn to expand their knowledge about the subject.)

1.
2.
3.
…

Texts:

There are no compulsory text books for the course, although students are advised to consult the
excellent text on development by Peet, Richard (with Elaine Hartwick) (1999) Theories of
Development, New York: Guilford Press.

Readings by week (to be supplemented by minor/short readings from newspapers and media
sources):

Week 1: Theories of Development: an Introduction

Peet, R. and E. Hartwick (1999), ‘Introduction’, in Theories of Development (New York: Guilford Press): 1-16.

Shah, A. (2013), ‘Poverty Facts and Stats’, available online: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-

and-stats , accessed on August 30, 2013.

Course Syllabus 5
Jun 2017
Week 2: Contextualising development

Berger, M. (2004), ‘Theories of Progress and the Nation-State System’, in M. Berger, The Battle for Asia: from
Decolonization to Globalization (London: RoutledgeCurzon): 1-34.

Wallerstein, I. (2004), ‘The Rise of the States-System: Sovereign Nation-States, Colonies, and the Interstate
System’, in I. Wallerstein, World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction (Durham: Duke): 42-59.

Week 3: Theories of Development I: Mercantilism and Liberalism

Shafaeddin, M. (2000) "What did Friedrich List Actually Say? Some Clarifications on the Infant Industry
Argument," http://unctad.org/en/docs/dp_149.en.pdf, downloaded on September 8 2014.

Smith, A. (1776) An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Chapters 1-5, available
online: http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/adam-smith/wealth-nations.pdf

Week 4: Theories of Development II: Marxism

Marx, K. and F. Engels (1888) "Manifesto of the Communist Party," in The Marx-Engels Reader, R. C. Tucker
(ed) (New York and London: W.W. Norton and Company).

Peet, R. and E. Hartwick (1999), ‘Marxist and Neo-Marxist Theories of Development’, in Theories of
Development (New York: The Guilford Press): 91-122.

Week 5: Development Theory and Practice I: Modernisation Theory and Dependency Theory

Frank, A. G. (1998), ‘The Development of Underdevelopment’, in S. Chew and R. Denemark (eds), The
Underdevelopment of Development: Essays in Honour of Andre Gunder Frank (Thousand Oaks: Sage): 17-56.

Berger, M. (2004), ‘Modernization Theory’, The Battle for Asia: From Decolonization to Globalization (Routledge
Curzon): 86-115,

Week 6: Development Theory and Practice II: The Developmental State

Carroll, T., & Jarvis, D. (2013, Monday, August 19). The Death of Development in Asia. The Jakarta Post: 6.

Johnson, C. (1999). The Developmental State: Odyssey of a Concept. In M. Woo-Cumings (Ed.), in The

Course Syllabus 6
Jun 2017
Developmental State (Ithaca: Cornell University Press): 32-60.

Week 7: Development Theory and Practice III: Neoliberalism and the Washington consensus

Harvey, D. (2005), ‘Freedom’s Just Another Word . . .’, in D. Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism (New York:
Oxford University Press): 5-38.

Williamson, J. (2000), ‘What Should the World Bank Think About the Washington Consensus?’, The World Bank
Research Observer, vol. 15 no. 2: 251-264.

Week 8: Development Theory and Practice IV: Neoliberalism and the post-Washington consensus

Stiglitz, J. (2001), ‘More Instruments and Broader Goals: Moving Towards a Post-Washington Consensus’, in
H.J. Chang (ed.), Joseph Stiglitz and the World Bank, The Rebel Within (London: Anthem Press): 17-56.

Week 9: Development Theory and Contemporary Development Themes I: The World Bank, Good
Governance and Development

World Bank (2002), ‘Political Institutions and Governance’, World Development Report 2002, Building Institutions
for Markets (Washington D.C.: Oxford University Press): 99-116.

Cammack, P. (2004), ‘What the World Bank Means by Poverty Reduction and Why it Matters’, New Political
Economy, vol. 9, no. 2: 189-211

Week 10: Development Theory and Contemporary Development Themes II: Sustainable Development,
Environmental Governance, NGOs and activists

McKibben, B. (2012), ‘Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math’, Rolling Stone Magazine, July 19, available online:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719 , accessed on August
28, 2013.

World Bank (2012), ‘Overview’ in Inclusive Green Growth (Washington D.C.: World Bank): 1-25.

Week 11: Development Theory and Contemporary Development Themes III: Participation, Empowerment,
Social Development and Gender

Murray Li, T. (2007), ‘Development in the Age of Neoliberalism’, The Will to Improve: Governmentality,
Development, and the Practice of Politics (Durham: Duke University Press): 231-269.

World Bank (2012), ‘Overview’, Gender Equality and Development (Washington D.C.: World Bank):2-44.

Course Syllabus 7
Jun 2017
Week 12: Development Theory and Contemporary Development Themes IV: Labour, Health and
Education

Fine, B., & Rose, P. (2003). Education and the post-Washington Consensus. In B. Fine, C. Lapavitsas, & J.
Pincus (Eds.), Development Policy in the Twenty-First Century - Beyond the post-Washington Consensus
(London and New York: Routledge): 155-181.

World Bank (2013), ‘Overview’, World Development Report 2013: Jobs (Washington D.C.: World Bank): 2-49.

Week 13:

No reading

Course Syllabus 8
Jun 2017