Stories of Power - NSC00002I

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Module summary

This module is for undergraduate students at the Norwegian Study Centre only.

The secret hidden history of the world is that it is something we create and can just as easily create differently. To create differently, however, we must first understand the stories that lie behind the current construction of the world, and the reality such stories conceal. Specifically, this module explores the stories of the political economy, working with the ultimate goal of being able to tell different stories than those that currently dominate our lives.

Primarily this module is based on insights from institutional political economy. In short, institutional political economy is a framework that holds that politics (and the struggle for power inherent in politics) creates law, and law creates the economic system in which individuals act. The economy (or "market") then is not separate to politics and the state, but intimately entwined with both. The shape of the economy too will continually be subject to change, rather than running on universal laws. Thankfully, this position is in contrast to orthodox economics (so there's no need for number-crunching) and instead draws upon literature from political science, sociology, economics, history, and legal studies, among others.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2026-27

Module aims

This course will primarily be taught through a mixture of lectures, practicals and seminars. Practicals and seminars concern research and argumentation skills. The lectures are focused on knowledge. In all parts of this course we will explore dominant stories about the topic as well as underlying realities. We can understand the course as having four sections, as laid out below.

1. Power and the Economy

This part of the module concerns basic ideas about the social world. The main point is show that the exploration of economic issues need not been abstract, mathematical and scary, but, instead, can be grounded in everyday experience and needs to involve a consideration of power and politics. The purpose of this section is to begin to ground abstract views of the world with some underlying features of reality.

2. Neoliberalism and Money

This section critically considers some of the most dominant stories of the social world through which many issues are read. This section then, while still big and broad, zooms us in further to explore contemporary reality.

3. Inequality, Corporate Power and the Environment

In this section we explore three dominant trends within the contemporary economy/society. These issues are further analytically zoomed in from first power and the economy, then neoliberalism and money, to work more as case studies; i.e. smaller parts of the bigger picture.

4. Data Capitalism and the Rise of Global Fascism

Finally, we look to the future of the political economy. Two main inter-related problems are explored. First, the development of a new economy based on technologies that are penetrating every aspect of our lives. Second, the increasingly dark turn politics has taken in the last decade. This section then leaves off with having a dynamically moving picture of the ever evolving political economy.

Module learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module you will:

• Demonstrate an understanding ofpolitico-economic issues and ideas
• Be able to analyse new and advancing developments in the political economy
• Recognise hegemonic stories about the world, and the weaknesses inherent in them
• Be able to create structured and critical arguments, drawing on relevant academic literature, in order to tell new and different stories about the world

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

Formative: During the teaching period, you will write a draft version of your essay upon which you will receive written comments within 2 weeks of submission. You will also have a one-to-one tutorial with your tutor regarding their feedback. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is provided in a pedagogical spirit, and the NSC also offers you help in learning from your feedback.

You will receive written feedback on summative assessments within twenty days of submission.

Indicative reading

A week-by-week reading list is provided at the start of the course. The best books for the foundational weeks of the course, and for getting a sense of the approach of the course, are H.J. Chang, Economics: The User's Guide and H.J. Chang, 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism.