Introductory description

Theories and Issues in International Political Economy is the core module of the MA in International Political Economy. The module is also available as an optional module on the other PAIS MA degrees. Module seminars run across the Autumn and Spring Terms, from October to March, and the final assessment exercise is submitted in May.

International Political Economy (IPE) builds on the scholarly legacy of classical political economists, but is oriented to the international political context of globalisation. IPE is concerned with the connections between politics and economics within the contemporary world order. Since the seminal work of scholars such as Susan Strange in the early 1970s, IPE has grown into a large and buoyant field of study. PAIS can boast one of the largest concentrations of IPE scholars anywhere in the world. This module builds on the expertise to be found in the department in order to survey the principal theories developed and the main issues addressed in IPE.
By examining ‘theories’, the module explores the ways that we construct knowledge about international political economy. What assumptions do we make? What concepts do we employ? What explanations do we propose? What normative judgements do we assert? By examining ‘issues’, the module considers some of the prominent substantive items on the policy agenda of international political economy. How, from an IPE perspective, can we deal efficiently, equitably and democratically with questions of governance related to money, finance, trade, production, consumption, development, gender, the environment, and so on? As the title of the module might be read to imply, theories and issues are interconnected in International Political Economy. Theoretical work and empirical work are not separate exercises. Practical problems stimulate theory construction, and theories inform the ways that we handle substantive issues. Our analysis of practical issues will be richer if it is informed by theories and by the theorising of international political economy scholars.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

TERM 1:

1. WHAT IS IPE?
2. HOW TO STUDY IPE: THEORY, HISTORY, POWER
3. REALISM AND ECONOMIC NATIONALISM
4. LIBERAL INSTITUTIONALISM AND NEO-LIBERALISM
5. CONSTRUCTIVISM AND CRITICAL IPE
6. NON-WESTERN THOUGHT AND THE GLOBALIZATION OF IPE
7. FEMINISM AND GENDER ANALYSIS
8. POST-COLONIALISM AND THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY OF RACE
9. EVERYDAY AND CULTURAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

TERM 2:

1. TRADE
2. PRODUCTION
3. MONEY
4. DEBT AND FINANCE
5. CONSUMPTION
6. MIGRATION
7. ENVIRONMENT
8. GOVERNANCE
9. RESISTANCE

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• a sound knowledge of the key concepts and theoretical debates in International Political Economy;
• an ability to analyse, compare and critically evaluate fundamental assumptions and arguments in IPE and IPE-related literature;
• an ability to construct and substantiate a critical argument;
• good investigative and information retrieval skills, including familiarity with information technology;
• good written communication skills in English;
• good time management; and
• an ability to interpret and answer essay questions.

Indicative reading list

Blyth, Mark. 2009. Routledge Handbook of International Political Economy (IPE): IPE as a Global Conversation. London: Routledge.

Broome, André. 2014. Issues and Actors in the Global Political Economy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Cafruny, Alan, Leila Simona Talani, and Gonzalo Pozo Martin (eds). 2016. The Palgrave Handbook of Critical International Political Economy. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Clift, Ben. 2017. Comparative Political Economy: States, Markets, and Global Capitalism. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Cohen, Benjamin J. 2008. International Political Economy: An Intellectual History. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Elias, Juanita and Adrienne Roberts. 2018. Handbook on the International Political Economy of Gender. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

Germain, Randall (ed.). 2016. Susan Strange and the Future or Global Political Economy. London: Routledge.

Gilpin, Robert. 2001. Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

O’Brien, Robert and Marc Williams. 2016. Global Political Economy: Evolution and Dynamics, 5th Edition. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Palan, Ronen (ed.). 2012. Global Political Economy: Contemporary Theories, 2nd Edition. London: Routledge.

Pettman, Ralph. 1996. Understanding International Political Economy: With Readings for the Fatigued. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

Phillips, Nicola (ed). 2005. Globalizing International Political Economy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Phillips, Nicola and Catherine E. Weaver (eds). 2011. International Political Economy: Debating the Past, Present and Future. London: Routledge.

Rai, Shirin. 2008. Global Governance: Feminist Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan.

Ravenhill, John (ed). 2017. Global Political Economy, 5th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Schwartz, Herman M. 2019. States Versus Markets: Understanding the Global Economy, 4th Edition. Basingstoke: London: Red Globe Press.

Shaw, Timothy, Laura C. Mahrenbach, Renu Modi, and Xu Yi-Chong (eds). 2019. The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary International Political Economy. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Shields, Stuart, Ian Bruff, and Huw Macartney. 2011. Critical International Political Economy: Dialogue, Debate and Dissensus. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Watson, Matthew. 2005. Foundations of International Political Economy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Subject specific skills

tbc

Transferable skills

tbc