ASSIGNMENT -- Extended Book Review
Grade: 30%
The extended book review requires a student to undertake a review of book (approved in advance by the instructor
with a list of suggestions being distributed before reading week). The review must provide a succinct overview
of the central argument of the book (no more than 1/3 of the review) and then evaluate the books argument in the context
of the readings and discussions in the course while making reference to as many of the relevant course readings as possible.
The overall length should not exceed 3000 words.
Due Date: Dec 9th, 5:00 pm in the ACE electronic drop box. Late book reviews will be penalized 5% per day or part thereof.
Suggested Approach:
1. Identify a relevant book. Likely sources include books referenced in course readings, in current relevant journals
(e.g. Globalizations, Global Governance, Global Social Policy) or in suggested readings in relevant texts such as Bob Deacon,
Global Social Policy and Governance (London: Sage, 2007) or Nicola Yeates, Understanding Global Social Policy
(Bristol: Policy Press, 2008).
2. Read the book keeping in mind the following questions:
What is the central argument of the book?
What assumptions does the book make and are they convincing?
What evidence does the book offer to establish its central argument and is this evidence compelling?
What conclusions does the book draw and are these conclusions warranted given the central empirical
argument of the book?
How does the book fit with the broader literature and debates on global social governance?
Are there important areas related to the topic that the book does not discuss or important
questions which the book raises but does not answer?
3. Structure your initial thinking about the argument around the question of whether the book would/should be required
reading for a course on global social governance and why or why not?
SUGGESTED BOOKS (in addition to books list on the Seminar Schedule)
Rudra, Nita. Globalization and the Race to the Bottom in Developing Countries: Who Really Gets Hurt? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Collier, Paul. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done about It? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
