Professor Wellington W. Nyangoni
Mandel 220
Telephone: 781-736-2091
Office hours: Tuesdays: 3 - 5 PM; Fridays: 3 – 4 PM; Thursdays: By appointment only
Classroom: Mandel G11
ECONOMICS OF THIRD WORLD HUNGER
AAAS 60a – Spring 2016
T, F: 12:10 – 1:30 pm
DESCRIPTION: This course will employ the tools of social science, particularly economics, to study causes and potential solutions to problems in production, trade, and consumption of food in the underdeveloped world. The first half of the course will be lectures while the second half will comprise a mixture of lectures and discussions. There are no prerequisites though some background knowledge of economics will be helpful. The first two weeks will be devoted to the introduction of basic concepts of economics and theories of development and underdevelopment. The following six weeks will be used to introduce a number of specific topics central to the study of food in the Third World, focusing on each topic upon the usefulness of the simple tools of analysis introduced in the first two weeks. Topics will include marketing institutions as they relate to the import and export of food and other agricultural programs. The last section of the course will be built upon case studies, drawing upon ideas and conceptual tools used earlier in the semester.
REQUIREMENTS: Students are required to keep up with the assigned reading for each class. Readings consist of both introductory and specialized, analytical texts and journal articles. The class sessions will cover topics and interpretations presented in the readings as well as additional materials introduced by the instructor. The classes will combine lecture and discussion. Students will be called upon to comment extensively on the assigned readings or other aspects of the lectures and are encouraged to ask questions and to contribute to discussion.
- Mid-term, Take Home examination due February 19.
- 1 oral reports based on term paper topic February 23 and 26.
- Term paper (15 to 20 pages), due April 19.
- Final Take Home examination due April 29.
You may work with another person on one country; but no more than two people should work on the same country in order to provide a wider range of evidence for the seminar participants to consider. The term paper should use the problem solving approach (i.e., embody it in the basic outline of the paper):
1)Define the nature and scope of the problem of hunger in the country of your choice.
2)Critique the alternative theories purporting to explain the problem of hunger in relation to the country you have chosen; and, on the basis of analysis, formulate your own hypotheses as to its causes in that country.
3)Outline the evidence available relating to the country to show that it is consistent with your hypothesis (if it is not, you will have to revise the hypothesis).
4)Propose an approach to solving the problem of hunger in the country.
5)Suggest how the approach adopted should be monitored to ensure that it will be revised as new problems (inevitably) arise in the course of its implementation.
Course grading is as follows:
Term papers40%
1 oral report10%
Mid-term examination15%
Final examination25%
Class participation10%
If you have a documented disability and would like a reasonable accommodation made for you, please see me immediately after class.
Academic integrity is central to the mission of educational excellence at Brandeis University. Each student is expected to turn in work completed independently, except when assignments specifically authorize collaborative effort. It is not acceptable to use the words or ideas of another—be it a world-class philosopher or your lab partner—without proper acknowledgement of that source. This means that you must use footnotes and quotation marks to indicate the source of any phrases, sentences, paragraphs or ideas found in published volumes, on the internet, or created by another student.
Violations of University policies on academic integrity, described in Section 3 of Rights and Responsibilities, may result in failure in the course or on the assignment, and could end in suspension from the University. If you are in doubt about the instructions for any assignment in this course, you must ask for clarification.
If you are working in a group that I have authorized, I will expect your answers to resemble those of your partners; otherwise I expect you to do your work separately from your friends, classmates, family members, and so on. You are not permitted to have anyone other than your professor help you on written assignments outside of class. If you have questions on the type of help you may receive, please ask me before you seek help from someone.
REQUIRED READING: The books listed below are required for this course. These books are available in the Brandeis University Bookstore. All required readings have been placed on reserve in the library. Reading assignments designated as “reserve” must be obtained at the reserve desk.
- EricHolt-Gimenez and Raj Patel, Food Rebellions. Crisis and the Hunger for Justice, Food First Institute, Oakland, California, 2009.
- George W. Norton, Hunger and Hope. Escaping Poverty and Achieving Food Security in Developing Countries. Waveland Press, Inc., Long Grove, Illinois, 2014.
- Henk Bakker, Food Security in Africa and Asia, Strategies for Small-Scale Agricultural Development. CAB International. 2011.
- U.K.Nagothu, Food Security and Development,Country Case Studies. Routledge.
- B.A. Willaarts, A. Garrido and M. Llamas, Water for Food Security in Latin America, Routledge.
RECOMMENDED READING: The book listed below is recommended for supplementary reading.
Wellington W. Nyangoni, The Politics and Economies of Food Security in Developing Countries, Msasa Publications, 2000
WEEKLY OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
Weeks 1 & 2
January 15, 19, 22, 26
Topic: Economics of Hunger: An Overview
Eric Holt-Gimenez and Raj Patel, Food Rebellions. Read chapters 1-3
George W. Norton, Hunger and Hope. Escaping Poverty and Achieving Food Security in Developing Countries. Waveland Press, Inc., Long Grove, Illinois, 2014. Read chapter 1.
Henk Bakker, Food Security in Africa and Asia, Strategies for Small-Scale Agricultural Development. CAB International. 2011. Read chapters 1 and 2.
U. K. Nagothu, Food Security and Development, Country Case Studies. Routledge. Read chapter 1
B.A. Willaarts, A. Garrido and M. Llamas, Water for Food Security in Latin America, Routledge. Read chapter 1.
Weeks 3 & 4
January 29, February2 and 5
Topic: CentralTopics in Third World Economics. Food Supply and Population Growth
Eric Holt-Gimenez and Raj Patel, Food Rebellions. Read chapters 4-5
George W. Norton, Hunger and Hope. Escaping Poverty and Achieving Food Security in Developing Countries. Waveland Press, Inc., Long Grove, Illinois, 2014. Read chapter 2.
Henk Bakker, Food Security in Africa and Asia, Strategies for Small-Scale Agricultural Development. CAB International. 2011. Read chapter 3.
U. K. Nagothu, Food Security and Development, Country Case Studies. Routledge. Read chapters 3-4.
B.A. Willaarts, A. Garrido and M. Llamas, Water for Food Security in Latin America, Routledge.Read chapter 2.
February 2, Post Take Home Exams on LATTE.
Week 5
February 9. Submit Take Home Exams to instructor.
February 12 and 16
Post Independence and Agrarian Reform
Henk Bakker, Food Security in Africa and Asia, Strategies for Small-Scale Agricultural Development. CAB International. 2011. Read chapter 5.
Week 6
February15 - 19
Mid-Term Recess
Weeks 7 and 8
Oral Reports. February 23 and26.
March 1,4, and 8,
Topic: Productivity and Distribution
Eric Holt-Gimenez and Raj Patel, Food Rebellions. Read chapter 6
George W. Norton, Hunger and Hope. Escaping Poverty and Achieving Food Security in Developing Countries. Waveland Press, Inc., Long Grove, Illinois, 2014. Read chapters 4-8.
Henk Bakker, Food Security in Africa and Asia, Strategies for Small-Scale Agricultural Development. CAB International. 2011. Read chapters 6-7.
U. K. Nagothu, Food Security and Development, Country Case Studies. Routledge. Read chapters 6-7.
B. A. Willaarts, A. Garrido and M. Llamas, Water for Food Security in Latin America, Routledge. Read chapters 3-6.
Weeks 9and 10
March 29, April 1, 5 and 8
Videos, documentariesanddiscussions.
Week 11
April 12 and 15
Topic: Agribusiness, International trade, and Marketing
George W. Norton, Hunger and Hope. Escaping Poverty and Achieving Food Security in Developing Countries. Waveland Press, Inc., Long Grove, Illinois, 2014. Read chapters 8-10.
Henk Bakker, Food Security in Africa and Asia, Strategies for small-scale agricultural development. CAB International. 2011. Read chapters 8-9.
U.K.Nagothu, Food Security and Development, Country Case Studies. Routledge. Read the rest of the book.
B.A. Willaarts, A. Garrido and M. Llamas, Water for Food Security in Latin America, Routledge.Read chapters 7-9.
Eric Holt-Gimenez, Food Rebellions. Part Two
Week 12
April 19
Topic: Ecology,ClimateChange,InternationalBusinessandGlobalHunger
Readings to be given in class.
Week 13
April 22 - 29.
Passover and Spring Recess
Week 14
May 3.
Course Discussion.