Dr Armine Ishkanian OLD1.13, Dr Timothy Hildebrandt, Prof David Lewis and Dr Muzafferettin Seckinelgin

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Social Policy and Development: Non-Governmental Organisations. This course is available on the MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MSc in African Development, MSc in China in Comparative Perspective, MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Global Politics, MSc in Human Rights, MSc in Social Policy (Research) and MSc in Social Policy and Development. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Students will preferably have some experience of work within NGOs and/or relevant government departments or donor agencies working with NGOs.

The course focuses on the specialised field of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) within the field of social policy and development, and considers theoretical and policy issues. Main topics include the history and theory of NGOs; the changing policy contexts in which NGOs operate; NGO service delivery and advocacy roles in policy; challenges of NGO accountability; NGO organisational growth and change; conceptual debates around civil society, social capital, social movements and globalisation; and NGO relationships with other institutional actors including government, donors and private sector.

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.

Students will sit a mock exam held in LT. Students will receive feedback from their academic adviser on the mock exam. Weekly student led seminars which involve discussion of the assigned readings will also help to develop students' critical thinking, reading, and analytical skills 

Anheier, H.K. (2005) Nonprofit Organizations: Theory, Management, Policy. London: Routledge; Bebbington, A., Hickey, S. and Mitlin, D. (2008) Can NGOs Make a Difference? London: Zed Books; Edwards, M. and Hulme, D. NGOs, Performance and Accountability: Beyond the Magic Bullet. London: Earthscan; Glasius, M, Lewis, D. and Seckinelgin, H. (2004) eds. Exploring Civil Society: Political and Cultural Contexts, London: Routledge; Kaldor, M. and Anheier, H.K. Global Civil Society Yearbooks 2001-2010. Oxford University Press/Sage; Holmen, H. (2010) Snakes in Parsdise: NGOs and the Aid Industry in Africa. Sterling VA: Kumarian; Howell, J. and J. Pearce (2001) Civil Society and Development: A Critical Exploration. London: Lynne Rienner; Lewis, D. and Kanji, N. (2009) Non-Governmental Organisations and Development. London: Routledge.

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.