POLS 076. Challenges for Developing Democracies

How should we understand the central governance challenges low-income democracies face? What changes need to be made to address problems such as corruption, ethnic conflict, and poor quality public services in developing democracies from South Asia to Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa (with an emphasis on South Asia). In this course, we carefully diagnose these challenges with attention to political and state institutions and the specific contexts of the democracies we study. Drawing on the theoretical and empirical insights of political science, we explore long-term and short-term obstacles to better governance and discuss plausible solutions. This class will be useful to students interested in the politics of developing countries and those interested in how social scientists understand the challenges they face.
Counts toward Asian Studies if all papers and projects are focused on Asian topics.
Recommended: One social science course
Social sciences.
1 credit.
Catalog chapter: Political Science
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/political-science

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