Fridays 10-12 Noon
January 16 through February 20, 2004
D.O.C. House
This course will look at living conditions in “developing countries” including economic indicators, governance, and levels of accountability of the political leaders to the populace. For the first two sessions, participants will study the programs, policies, institutions and agencies, both bi-lateral (country-to-country) and multi-lateral (i.e. World Bank, UNDP), that try to improve conditions and remedy shortcomings in host-country performance. These sessions will be illustrated with case studies largely from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Middle East countries, describing approaches used and resultant outcomes.
The remaining four sessions will examine in closer detail events in some countries that have been recipients of foreign aid programs. Participants will consider whether any “lessons learned” from these examples are influencing current U.S. assistance strategy and how best to evaluate the implementation of policies adopted. The countries selected for concentrated study are Afghanistan, Iran, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
Readings will include maps and background information about the countries studied, “power point” handouts summarizing policies and case studies being presented, portions of books and articles describing development events, and a sampling of recent editorial opinion and critiques. One book is recommended: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else by Hernando DeSoto. Other readings will be recommended. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in exercises based on actual development projects. There will be presentations, discussion and commentary by participants.
Class is limited to 20 members.
David Levintow, a retired Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State's Agency for International Development, served 25 years in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Washington, D.C. After his government service, he was a consultant with private firms, the World Bank, GTZ (German Aid Agency) and the Asian Development Bank. His major emphasis was advising governments and training local officials in preparing and implementing concession agreements facilitating private sector investment in, or operation of, infrastructure service delivery. Sectors covered were mainly water/waste water, solid waste management, and transport (rail, marine ports, airports). Levintow has a BA from Antioch College and an MA (majoring in Development Economics) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
