The Politics of the World Economy
| Module title | The Politics of the World Economy |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL2027 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Stephen Greasley (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 200 |
|---|
Module description
This module has been designed to offer you an introduction to the cross-disciplinary field of International Political Economy (IPE). The political examination of the world economy is important for how it sheds light on the complexity of capitalism, including its structures, processes, and outcomes. There are two main questions addressed throughout the module: (1) why and how does the international political economy take its current form?; and (2) how does the international political economy impact on particular actors, including governments; firms and other producers; civil society. You will be asked to think critically about how the international political economy is conceived and governed, in particular through evaluating issues of power and equity.
Module aims - intentions of the module
Based on literature from the cross-disciplinary field of International Political Economy (IPE), the module examines important structures, processes, and outcomes in the recent history of capitalism. In particular the module aims to:
(1) familiarize you with the conceptual frameworks designed to illuminate major empirical concerns;
(2) provide a foundational knowledge about the post-war history of governing the world economy, including attention to finance, trade, and development;
(3) engage in current debates about contemporary crises afflicting the capitalist order, including the global financial crisis, social inequalities and forms of resistance, the political economy of the environment, and alternatives to our current predicament.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate detailed knowledge of debates within the study of International Political Economy, including relevant conceptual frameworks, the international institutional history of the world economy, and major contemporary problems in key issue areas;
- 2. demonstrate the ability to articulate one's own ethical and political positions on questions of the international political economy;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. critically analyse both empirical and theoretical material;
- 4. deploy theoretical arguments and apply them to empirical case studies;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. communicate effectively in speech and writing; and
- 6. work independently and with peers to achieve common goals.
Syllabus plan
1. Introduction
Part I: Conceptual Resources
2. Origins of Global Governance: The Great Depression and Bretton Woods
3. Leadership and the World Economy
4. International Institutions and State Power
Part II: Governing the World Economy
5. Finance: the IMF
6. Trade: From the GATT to the WTO
7. Development and the World Economy
Part III: Contemporary Problems
8. Governing Intellectual Property
9. Central Banks
10. The Diffusion of Liberalism
11. Conclusion
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 26.5 | 123.5 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 16.5 | (11 x 1.5 hour) The weekly lectures detail conceptual frameworks, history and key debates to help guide your reading. |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 10 | (10 x 1 hour) The weekly tutorials consist of presentations and group discussion focused on tutorial questions and issues raised by students. |
| Guided independent study | 123.5 | Coursework and independent study includes reading, note taking, sketching answers to essay and seminar questions, presentation preparation and essay writing. This study is continuous throughout the course and should take at least six hours a week. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial presentation | 10 minutes | 1-6 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-6 | Written comments |
| Examination | 50 | 1.5 hours | 1-6 | Written comments |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Examination | Examination (1.5 hours) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Cohn, T., 2014, Global Political Economy, Harlow: Pearson Education
Gilpin, R., Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001).
Walter and Sen, G., Analyzing the Global Political Economy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008).
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 23/01/2013 |
| Last revision date | 17/12/2014 |
