POLI 2441 Comparative Politics of Development
This is a course about power, politics, and global development. Why are some countries rich and others poor? Why do some communities have few resources while their neighbors have plenty? To answer these questions, we will start by critically examining what development is and how it can be measured. Then we will examine theories linking politics to development. We will explore the effects of colonialism, geography, natural resource wealth, regime types, and foreign aid, among others. The readings from this course draw from political science, economics, anthropology, and history. During this semester we will examine both the deep roots of global inequality and engage with active policy debates about development.
Course overview
- Department
- Political Science
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically
Requirements fulfilled
- Environmental Studies: Concentration — Environmental Justice and Policy: One Political Science Course (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- International Studies: Concentration: Cooperation and Conflict – approved courses (six courses in one concentration) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- International Studies: Concentration: Ethics and Social Justice – approved courses (six courses in one concentration) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- International Studies: Concentration: Political Economy and Development Studies – approved courses (six courses; either cluster counts) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- International Studies: IS Core: one designated Comparative Politics course (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.48 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.45 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 3
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | Lauren Honig | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 27 of 29 |
| Fall 2022 | Lauren Honig | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | — | 26 of 35 |
| Fall 2021 | Lauren Honig | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 21 of 36 |