Development Policies
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course focuses on the relationship between politics and development. We will adopt a multidimensional conception of development, based on the idea that the development of a nation should be assessed in terms of both overall wealth, distribution of welfare, actual improvement in the quality of life of citizens, and present and future sustainability. This relationship will be studied through the interpretative lens of political science and the use of the comparative method, paying attention to countries belonging to different regions, characterised by different levels of development and different political institutions.
Despite the progress made in recent decades at the global level, development remains one of the major challenges of the 21st century, both due to the persistence of certain obstacles that have historically determined disparities in the development of states, and the emergence of new problems, including those related to climate change. At the same time, we are witnessing profound transformations at the political level that, albeit in different ways and with different intensity, are global in scope. These include the international spread of democracy, which after experiencing a long period of expansion now appears to be in decline, and the concomitant re-emergence of old and new forms of authoritarianism.
The thesis that will shape this course is that politics and development are deeply interconnected and that the relationship between them is complex and reciprocal. Understanding the challenges of development - first and foremost, why some states are more developed than others - cannot be divorced from an understanding of politics, the different forms it takes across states, and its transformations. Similarly, understanding politics and its transformations - why some states are democratic and others are not - requires paying attention to the processes of development, the sources of a state's wealth, the changes and inequalities in the distribution of resources within a nation that it can bring about, and the obstacles that slow down or prevent it.
The topics covered during the course will be approached from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. This means that in addition to providing some basic notions, the course will involve the analysis of statistical data, the investigation of real cases and the study of scientific research aimed at testing, updating and/or innovating existing theories.
In addition, the course aims to encourage students to rework the knowledge that will be acquired in order to develop the ability to autonomously and critically interpret contemporary events and to communicate their arguments. To this end, part of the lectures will be devoted to collective discussion and oral presentations.
Despite the progress made in recent decades at the global level, development remains one of the major challenges of the 21st century, both due to the persistence of certain obstacles that have historically determined disparities in the development of states, and the emergence of new problems, including those related to climate change. At the same time, we are witnessing profound transformations at the political level that, albeit in different ways and with different intensity, are global in scope. These include the international spread of democracy, which after experiencing a long period of expansion now appears to be in decline, and the concomitant re-emergence of old and new forms of authoritarianism.
The thesis that will shape this course is that politics and development are deeply interconnected and that the relationship between them is complex and reciprocal. Understanding the challenges of development - first and foremost, why some states are more developed than others - cannot be divorced from an understanding of politics, the different forms it takes across states, and its transformations. Similarly, understanding politics and its transformations - why some states are democratic and others are not - requires paying attention to the processes of development, the sources of a state's wealth, the changes and inequalities in the distribution of resources within a nation that it can bring about, and the obstacles that slow down or prevent it.
The topics covered during the course will be approached from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. This means that in addition to providing some basic notions, the course will involve the analysis of statistical data, the investigation of real cases and the study of scientific research aimed at testing, updating and/or innovating existing theories.
In addition, the course aims to encourage students to rework the knowledge that will be acquired in order to develop the ability to autonomously and critically interpret contemporary events and to communicate their arguments. To this end, part of the lectures will be devoted to collective discussion and oral presentations.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students should have acquired the following competences:
- knowledge of the main political institutions and their functioning;
- knowledge of the notion of development and the main issues related to it;
- understanding of the multiple interconnections between politics and development and the causal mechanisms through which development can influence politics and, conversely, politics can influence development;
- ability to rework the acquired knowledge to reflect independently on the issues addressed during the course;
- ability to prepare and deliver oral presentations, including through the use of digital tools, to communicate complex content in front of an audience.
- knowledge of the main political institutions and their functioning;
- knowledge of the notion of development and the main issues related to it;
- understanding of the multiple interconnections between politics and development and the causal mechanisms through which development can influence politics and, conversely, politics can influence development;
- ability to rework the acquired knowledge to reflect independently on the issues addressed during the course;
- ability to prepare and deliver oral presentations, including through the use of digital tools, to communicate complex content in front of an audience.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course is organised in three modules. A detailed list of the topics covered in lectures will be communicated on the course's Ariel website close to the start of the lectures.
Module 1 - Politics and Development: Introduction to the main themes and concepts of the course. On the one hand, the main definitions, measurements and theories of development will be reviewed. On the other hand, the nature, variety and functioning of the main political institutions (state, democracy, autocracy, regime transitions, forms of government, electoral systems) will be explained.
Module 2 - How Development Influences Politics: Examination of the main theories on how development, and various aspects related to it, can influence a country's politics and in particular its regime form, its prospects for democratisation, the stability of an authoritarian regime and the survival of a democratic one. Topics include modernisation theory, resource curse theory, and the role of socio-economic inequalities, economic performance and development aid.
Module 3 - How Politics Influences Development: Examination of the main theories on how politics can influence a nation's development prospects. Particular attention will be paid to statehood and regime form (democratic or autocratic), and how it can shape governmental decision-making processes and the incentives of governments to promote their nation's development. Specific factors considered include elections and the form of government, the distribution of government power between different political forces (consensual vs. majoritarian model), and their effects in terms of accountability, responsibility and representation.
Module 4 - Oral presentations by attending students. These presentations represent a way to get a deeper and more empirically oriented understanding of the topics covered in Module 3. They will be based on some readings proposed by the lecturer, starting from which students will develop a research project.
Module 1 - Politics and Development: Introduction to the main themes and concepts of the course. On the one hand, the main definitions, measurements and theories of development will be reviewed. On the other hand, the nature, variety and functioning of the main political institutions (state, democracy, autocracy, regime transitions, forms of government, electoral systems) will be explained.
Module 2 - How Development Influences Politics: Examination of the main theories on how development, and various aspects related to it, can influence a country's politics and in particular its regime form, its prospects for democratisation, the stability of an authoritarian regime and the survival of a democratic one. Topics include modernisation theory, resource curse theory, and the role of socio-economic inequalities, economic performance and development aid.
Module 3 - How Politics Influences Development: Examination of the main theories on how politics can influence a nation's development prospects. Particular attention will be paid to statehood and regime form (democratic or autocratic), and how it can shape governmental decision-making processes and the incentives of governments to promote their nation's development. Specific factors considered include elections and the form of government, the distribution of government power between different political forces (consensual vs. majoritarian model), and their effects in terms of accountability, responsibility and representation.
Module 4 - Oral presentations by attending students. These presentations represent a way to get a deeper and more empirically oriented understanding of the topics covered in Module 3. They will be based on some readings proposed by the lecturer, starting from which students will develop a research project.
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
The teaching method varies for attending and non-attending students. Attendance means assiduous attendance at lectures.
For attending students, the course includes both lectures (Modules 1, 2 and 3) and oral presentations (Module 4) by students and moments of collective discussion (Modules 2, 3 and 4). The lectures will be supported by slides, which will then be made available. Oral presentations and participation in discussion by students are considered an integral part of teaching.
For those who do not attend, the course includes the independent study of some texts.
For attending students, the course includes both lectures (Modules 1, 2 and 3) and oral presentations (Module 4) by students and moments of collective discussion (Modules 2, 3 and 4). The lectures will be supported by slides, which will then be made available. Oral presentations and participation in discussion by students are considered an integral part of teaching.
For those who do not attend, the course includes the independent study of some texts.
Teaching Resources
The teaching material varies for attending and non-attending students. Attendance means assiduous attendance at lectures. Below is a list of the bibliographic material that will be used during the course. A detailed list of the readings for the syllabuses for attending and non-attending students will be communicated on the course's Ariel website close to the start of the lectures.
Attending students:
a) Clark, William Roberts, Matt Golder, e Sona Nadenichek Golder. "Principi di Scienza Politica". McGraw-Hill, 2022 (Seconda edizione, curata da Fabio Franchino) (selected chapters).
b) Fama, Marco. "Sviluppo. Teorie, problemi, prospettive". Mondadori, 2024 (selected chapters).
c) Letture aggiuntive la cui lista sarà resa disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Non-attending students:
a) Clark, William Roberts, Matt Golder, e Sona Nadenichek Golder. "Principi di Scienza Politica". McGraw-Hill, 2022 (Seconda edizione, curata da Fabio Franchino) (selected chapters).
b) Fama, Marco. "Sviluppo. Teorie, problemi, prospettive". Mondadori, 2024.
c) Acemoglu, Daron, e James Robinson. "Perché le nazioni falliscono". Il Saggiatore, 2013.
Please note: The Ariel course website is an indispensable tool for study. Material such as lecture slides and additional readings will be made available on it.
Attending students:
a) Clark, William Roberts, Matt Golder, e Sona Nadenichek Golder. "Principi di Scienza Politica". McGraw-Hill, 2022 (Seconda edizione, curata da Fabio Franchino) (selected chapters).
b) Fama, Marco. "Sviluppo. Teorie, problemi, prospettive". Mondadori, 2024 (selected chapters).
c) Letture aggiuntive la cui lista sarà resa disponibile all'inizio del corso.
Non-attending students:
a) Clark, William Roberts, Matt Golder, e Sona Nadenichek Golder. "Principi di Scienza Politica". McGraw-Hill, 2022 (Seconda edizione, curata da Fabio Franchino) (selected chapters).
b) Fama, Marco. "Sviluppo. Teorie, problemi, prospettive". Mondadori, 2024.
c) Acemoglu, Daron, e James Robinson. "Perché le nazioni falliscono". Il Saggiatore, 2013.
Please note: The Ariel course website is an indispensable tool for study. Material such as lecture slides and additional readings will be made available on it.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination methods vary for attending and non-attending students. Attendance means assiduous attendance of lectures.
Attending students:
- The examination is divided into two parts. The final mark will be the sum of the marks obtained in the two parts.
- The first part of the examination consists of an intermediate written test which will be held at the end of Modules 1, 2 and 3 and which will consist of a series of multiple choice and short answer questions on the topics covered in the lessons. The outcome of this test will account for approximately 67% of the final grade.
- For the second part of the examination, each student will prepare an oral presentation on one of the topics covered in Module 4. The presentations will take place during the lectures and will account for approximately 33% of the final grade.
- Active participation in the collective discussion sessions will result in an increase in the final grade.
- Attendance of less than 80% of the lectures will result in a reduction of the final grade.
- Further information on examination procedures will be provided at the beginning of the course.
- Depending on the number of participants, the lecturer may propose alternative modes to the oral presentation for the second part of the examination.
Non-attending students:
- The examination consists of a single written test to be taken at the end of the course at one of the scheduled examination dates.
- The test covers all the bibliographical reference material in the syllabus for non-attending students.
- The test consists of a series of multiple-choice and short answer questions and an open question.
Attending students:
- The examination is divided into two parts. The final mark will be the sum of the marks obtained in the two parts.
- The first part of the examination consists of an intermediate written test which will be held at the end of Modules 1, 2 and 3 and which will consist of a series of multiple choice and short answer questions on the topics covered in the lessons. The outcome of this test will account for approximately 67% of the final grade.
- For the second part of the examination, each student will prepare an oral presentation on one of the topics covered in Module 4. The presentations will take place during the lectures and will account for approximately 33% of the final grade.
- Active participation in the collective discussion sessions will result in an increase in the final grade.
- Attendance of less than 80% of the lectures will result in a reduction of the final grade.
- Further information on examination procedures will be provided at the beginning of the course.
- Depending on the number of participants, the lecturer may propose alternative modes to the oral presentation for the second part of the examination.
Non-attending students:
- The examination consists of a single written test to be taken at the end of the course at one of the scheduled examination dates.
- The test covers all the bibliographical reference material in the syllabus for non-attending students.
- The test consists of a series of multiple-choice and short answer questions and an open question.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., by appointment via email
Room 2, Department of Social and Political Sciences (1st floor, Building 1)