Contemporary Issues in International Political Economy

Module Description

The module introduces students to some of the key contemporary issues in the field of International Political Economy (IPE). The module consists of two closely related sections.

Through Part One, a series of approaches to the study of IPE are reviewed. These approaches range from traditional state-centred models that focus on competition over scarce material resources, to works that aim to uncover the roots of persistent global poverty and inequality, to literatures that encourage critical reflection on the mechanisms through which ideas and identities intersect with patterns of production and distribution.

Through Part Two, these frameworks are applied to a series of contemporary trends and dynamics. Issues explored typically include patterns of global trade and finance, changing forms of private power, and (in-)stability in US leadership on global economic issues.

Module Objectives

Overall the module aims to extend students' capacity to both engage with contemporary scholarship, and to apply insights gained to 'real world' issues. Assessment is structured to allow for an in depth exploration by students of areas of interest they develop through the module.

Preliminary Reading

Robert O'Brien and M. Williams. Global Political Economy: Evolution and Dynamics. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010

Andrew Walter and Guatam Sen. Analyzing the Global Political Economy. Princeton University Press, 2008

Ronen Palan (ed), Global Political Economy: Contemporary Theories, Routledge 2000

John Ravenhill. Global Political Economy. Oxford University Press, 2007

William Robinson. A Theory of Global Capitalism. John Hopkins University Press, 2004

Assessment

One essay of 4000 words (100% of total mark).