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67511-01 - Seminar: Corruption and Development – Causes, Consequences and Approaches to Fight it (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers |
Claudia Baez Camargo Lujambio (claudia.baez-camargo@unibas.ch)
Jacopo Costa (jacopo.costa@unibas.ch) Saba Kassa (saba.kassa@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Corruption obstructs sustainable development, disrupts development programmes’ efficacy by abusing and diverting aid and investment, wastes funds for vital services such as education and health, fuels humanitarian crises, veers leaders towards following their private rather than citizens’ interests, ruins trust in public institutions, and increases inequality. As such, combating corruption in the developing world has been a formidable challenge and has taken a prominent place in the agenda of the international development community for the past two decades. This module examines the causes, consequences and approaches to fighting corruption. It is organised in two parts. In the first six weeks, the module looks at how corruption is and can be understood. How is corruption defined? How does corruption impact development? What are the drivers of corruption? How can corruption be analysed as a networked phenomenon? Is there a gender-corruption nexus? What role does culture play in corruption? How is corruption measured? After gaining an understanding of what corruption is and what its drivers are, then we move on to how corruption can be combated. We look at the historical evolution of anti-corruption in global development and introduce the various approaches to anti-corruption, including tech-based approaches. We also delve into how anti-corruption works in practice, drawing on case studies and how anti-corruption outcomes are measured. Finally, we look to the future: what are the trends in (anti-)corruption? |
| Learning objectives | By the end of the module, students should be able to: ● Conceptualise the definition of corruption, the types of corruption and the implications of corruption; ● Discuss competing concepts of understanding corruption; ● Reflect critically on how to measure corruption; ● Examine the relevance of (anti-)corruption in the development field; ● Have a differentiated understanding of the various anti-corruption approaches, their implementation and efficacy. |
| Bibliography | Reading list and more detailed course outline in the first course session |
| Comments | Advanced BA 5th semesters onwards Attention: All Seminars will be graded in the Department of Political Science. Grading scale 6.0 to 1.0, whereupon 4.0 is a pass. The number of participants is limited. The places are assigned according to date of enrollment and subject of study. Priority will be given to students of Political Science. |
| Admission requirements | Advanced BA 5th semesters onwards Attention: All Seminars will be graded in the Department of Political Science. Grading scale 6.0 to 1.0, whereupon 4.0 is a pass. The number of participants is limited. The places are assigned according to date of enrollment and subject of study. Priority will be given to students of Political Science. |
| Course application | Advanced BA 5th semesters onwards |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 20.02.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 27.02.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 06.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 13.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Fasnachstferien |
| Thursday 20.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 27.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 03.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 10.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 17.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Ostern |
| Thursday 24.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 01.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Tag der Arbeit |
| Thursday 08.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 15.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 22.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Seminarraum 02.004 |
| Thursday 29.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Auffahrt |
| Modules |
Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Regionaler Fokus B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Regionaler Fokus M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Vertiefung Politikwissenschaft B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Vertiefung Politikwissenschaft M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Module: Conflicts and Peacebuilding (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | The module is assessed at 30% with active class participation. Every session will start with a review of the 3 preparatory questions, and the session will end with an interactive group exercise and discussion. Students are expected to actively engage with these questions, as well as with group exercises and overall class discussion. 70% of the module grade is made up of a written assignment. Students are to write one essay with a maximum word count of 5000. Students will analyse a documentary explaining a corruption phenomenon and will be tasked with answering 4-5 questions on it: what is the problem, what are the drivers of corruption, what would be an approach to fight it, and what are the challenges? |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Politikwissenschaft |