BSc Minor Development and Policies in a Globalizing World (WUDPG) / BSc

Introduction

In our globalized world international development has become a key theme. Wherever we live, whatever we do, we live in a strongly connected world. We have left a world in which nation-states were considered the only actors with legitimate power to address problems of development. Currently, many other actors have presented themselves as new 'governors' in a globalizing world, next to the nation-state. These actors include non-governmental organizations (NGO's), international organizations, transnational corporations (TNC's), local interest groups and individual citizens. How this new world will look like, is as yet unclear, but some contours are already recognizable. In this BSc minor the participants will get acquainted with these contemporary developments and learn insights and concepts in order to analyze and understand these developments.
In this BSc minors students will first get an introduction in the economic, political, cultural, environmental and demographic dimensions of international development. Next, the process of globalization is placed in a historical perspective. Subsequently, three different contemporary, international institutions and their policies are addressed: the WTO and trade liberalization; the Kyoto protocol and regulation of global warming; UN Security Council and humanitarian intervention. Finally, it is asked how processes of globalization affect the role of nation-states and governments, and result in new governance and trust relations?

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this minor students are expected to be able to:
- understand contemporary globalization as a heterogeneous process;
- understand the historical transformations of globalization;
- assess the position of the nation-state in a globalizing world;
- assess the main features of international institutions and policies in specific fields;
- use and combine different theoretical perspectives to analyze international policies and institutions in specific fields;
- understand the consequences of governance for trust-relations.

BSc Minor Coordinator

Dr A.J. Schuurman
Phone: 0317-(4)82292
Email: anton.schuurman@wur.nl

Target Group

This minor is interesting for a broad range of bachelor students (both social science and non-social science).

Components of the BSc Minor

http://www.minors.wur.nl