This course deals with the specificities of political transformation in countries of the South in view of colonial heritage , direct and indirect domination by foreign powers , need for development --all connected to existing political regimes. and the changes these are going through. The course will discuss theories according to which democratization and development depend on each other. Other issues to be discussed include the political import of development, foreign intervention and neo-colonialism in the guise of foreign aid ostensibly aimed at development; (the evolution of ) concepts of development in the post-World War II period, culminating in the introduction of concepts of participation, inclusivity and sustainability; use of the concept of democratic development and human rights under conditions of colonial domination; alternative concepts of development; liberation and development.