STV4324B – The Politics of Poverty
Course content
Poverty is an intrinsic component of the daily struggles for survival of more than one billion people in the developing world.
This course – given jointly by the Department of Political Science and the Centre for Development and the Environment – will introduce students to national and international policies that explain the continued existence of various types of poverty.
With the help of analytical tools, students will be able to critically understand, reflect and evaluate the impact of democracy, human rights, corruption, climate change and foreign aid on poverty reduction.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Students will:
- Obtain a nuanced understanding of how poverty is understood and measured, including the methodological challenges involved
- Be well acquainted with the major theoretical and empirical approaches to the causation and production of chronic, acute and extreme poverty
- Identify, differentiate and analyse the impact of conventional and participatory approaches to poverty reduction
- Explain how and why official understandings of poverty may differ from those of people living in poverty
- Define various types of poverty in global, national and local contexts
- Learn how to better understand what works, how and why in relation to global and national anti-poverty interventions
- Gain insight into the explicit role of politics in the production and reduction of poverty and inequality
- Critically examine the impact of democracy, human rights, corruption, climate change and foreign aid on policy policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality
- Evaluate the role and importance of role of ethics and morality in relation to poverty research and policy
Skills
Students will be able to:
- Critically read and evaluate existing studies on poverty and inequality-related topics
- Apply theoretical approaches to analyse specific cases of poverty reduction at international, national and local levels
- Undertake comparative studies of poverty reduction in differing contexts
- Illustrate some of the major successes and failures of public policy
- Organise and differentiate between major development interventions and their impact at international, national and local levels
Competences
Students will:
- Acquire and further strengthen their ability to undertake critical, independent and thorough analyses of complex issues and questions
- Enhance their ability to critically evaluate empirical research
- Strengthen their overall ability to understand interdisciplinary theory and practice
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Apply for guest student status if you are admitted to another Master's programme.
For incoming students
All Master's courses in Political Science must be registered manually by the Department, they will not appear in Studentweb. Contact your international coordinator at UiO.
Teaching
Lectures.
Examination
3-hour written examination and term paper.
The term paper must:
- be between 3500-5000 words.
- be on a topic related to the curriculum but selected by the student
- meet the formal requirements for submission of written assignments
The written examination counts more than the term paper. You receive one overall grade. You must pass the term paper and the written examination in the same semester.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
See also our information about resitting an exam.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.