What is development and the state PDF

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WEEK 1: What is Development? What is the State? Three theoretical perspectives: Liberalism and the state Statist Political Economy Marxism, the State and Development What is a state? - In the Soviet Union, the state and economy are almost similar - How do social classes affect the role of the govern...

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WEEK 1: What is Development? What is the State? Three theoretical perspectives: - Liberalism and the state - Statist Political Economy - Marxism, the State and Development

What is a state? - In the Soviet Union, the state and economy are almost similar - How do social classes affect the role of the government?

Common elements of a state - Centrality - Territorially demarcated area - Differentiated set of institutions, personnel - Monopoly of authoritative rule-making (law) o Backed by force

Associated Characteristics - Sovereignty - Internally/externally recognised - Impersonal power (public continuation) - Material state (flags, stamps, currency) - Taxation - Legitimacy - Customs These are all really important to understand the state.

Brief History of the state - Go back to the Greek and Roman states

- Feudalism - Absolutism - Constitutional state - Welfare state - Neo-liberal state - There has been a change over time - Difference in welfare states, a different model in different countries

Rise in capitalism led to: - Constitutional state, industrial revolution and the modern state

History of development - Colonial administrations – adopted the ideology of the white man’s burden, led to slavery. Some argue that that idea remains today - Post WW2 Development – massive tensions between leading capitalist states, rise of the global south Development as Religion? - Idea of development is a combination of power and knowledge which can undermine what people want to achieve – Escobar Why are there such massive inequalities? Why should we be aware of the state?

What is development? What are the means? - Economic growth - Catch-up development - Reducing inequality - A life of material plenty/free of want - Human fulfilment - A life free form exploitation? All of these are questions, are they important in development?...