State Formation, State Development, and State Challenges. Denmark and South Korea compared
(15th-24th August)
Responsible:
Professor Hanseok Suh, Gachon University, South Korea.
Professor Lars Bo Kaspersen, University of Copenhagen.
Director Geir Helgesen, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS).
Course level:
This is a course offered at masters level - it is open for students with a social sciences or humanities background (political, science, sociology, anthropology, economics, development studies etc.)
Introduction and objectives:
This new and innovative course seeks to explore the complex issue about state and societal development. When we look around the world today we find approx. 195 UN recognized states and the trend is towards more states rather than fewer. These states and societies have different histories, have had different trajectories and some have become more prosperous than others. They vary in size (geographically, population), access to natural resources, homogeneity (language, history, ethnicity, religion, culture etc.) and they are exposed to different geo-political challenges. The course will explore how certain states and their societies have developed over time and we will discuss current challenges to further state development. We will also discuss whether states today are undergoing a transformation which eventually will change the structure and character of contemporary states.
The approach to this complex issue requires open mindedness and inter-disciplinarity. Thus we shall seek inspiration in historical comparative sociology, politics, economics, and comparative political economy.
The course will provide an introduction to the field of state formation and state building research which is well established within historical sociology and comparative politics. Subsequently, we shall read some texts about state development and development issues in general and here we will draw upon literature from economics, political economy, sociology, and politics. Finally, we will look into literature on globalization and new challenges to state and societal development in the 21st century. Also here we discuss various analyses undertaken by economists, political scientists and political economists.
Deadline for submitting application: 1 May 2013
For further information about application procedures, fee, exams etc.: https://polsci.ku.dk/uddannelser/summer_schools/