The Politics of Local Development

Undergraduate

Over the last several decades, countries across the Global South have undertaken a degree of decentralization—a downward shift in political and fiscal powers to local governments. Concurrently, international development agencies increasingly emphasize the importance of community participation in local interventions. How effective have these institutional changes been in improving outcomes in local governance and development? This course examines major trends and challenges in the field of local development. It covers a range of themes, including decentralization, community driven development, state capacity, collective action, accountability, and social inclusion. Geographically, the course’s content spans a wide range of countries across the Global South. SO HTBA