Since WW II, the “development” of “underdeveloped” countries forms a goal of international, bi- and multilateral politics. Development politics have been theoretically conceptualized and practically implemented in different and frequently contradictory ways. These considerations and implementations of development politics are based on different theories, ideologies, and philosophies on the aims of development – or, to put it in another way, on utopias of a good society.

The course will discuss theories and practices of development politics and economics as case studies for more general concepts of society and economy. Thus, theories such as modernization theory, dependencia theory, world system theory, or institutional change and practices such as development aid, microcredits, and the UN Development Goals will be presented and linked to more general concepts such as liberalism and neo-liberalism, Marxism, Institutionalism, or Post-Colonialism.

Research paper, presentation in class, participation in class.

Attendance: Mandatory for at least 2/3 of the lectures (20 hours)

Students from other faculties or universities may be given places on the course subject to room capacities