International Political Economy

The structure of the course is as follows (8 themes):

a) IPE: definition, theories and methods (3 hours)

b) The gradual formation of a global economy (3 hours)

c) International trade (4 hours)

d) Transnational production (4 hours)

e) Globalised finance (4 hours)

f) Development (2 hours)

g) Global environmental change (2 hours)

h) The governance of globalisation (2 hours)

International Political Economy (IPE), sometimes also called Global Political Economy (GPE), is ‘a field of inquiry, a subject matter whose central focus is the interrelationship between public and private power in the allocation of scarce resources’, considered from a global perspective (Ravenhill, J. (ed.), Global Political Economy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 4th ed., 2014, pp. 17-18). The field of IPE/GPE is interdisciplinary, and characterised by a multiplicity of theoretical or methodological approaches. This course is analytical as opposed to prescriptive or normative.

This is a 24-hour ex cathedra course. Students are expected to read the relevant chapter(s) of the compulsory textbook (see below) ahead of each lecture, so as to facilitate understanding and discussion. Active participation during classes is encouraged. The aim of lectures is to provide students with an extensive « map of the territory » for each of the 8 themes of the course, as well as to discuss and clarify difficult concepts.

Contribution to the teaching profile

At the end of this course and having completed the compulsory reading, students should be able to:

• demonstrate in-depth understanding of the factors of continuity and change in global economic history, particularly with respect to processes of integration and fragmentation;

• assess the merits of various methodological and theoretical approaches;

• display knowledge of the politics of international economic relations in various issue areas including the role of various actors, including states, international organisations, and non-state actors;

• critically discuss the main challenges of global governance.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Compulsory reading: O’Brien, R. and M. Williams, Global Political Economy, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 4th ed., 2013 (relevant chapters only : see below). This textbook is expected to be available at the P.U.B. from January 2015 onwards.

Relevant chapters are:

a) IPE: definition, theories and methods: chapters 1 and 2

b) The gradual formation of a global economy: chapters 3, 4 and 5

c) International trade: chapter 6

d) Transnational production: chapters 7 and 9

e) Globalised finance: chapter 8

f) Development: chapter 11

g) Global environmental change : chapter 12

h) The governance of globalisation: chapter 15

Reading chapters 10, 13 and 14 is thus not required.

Contacts

ULB, FSP

Method(s) of evaluation

• Other

Other

Written examination (20/20 points): multiple choice + open questions.

Language(s) of evaluation

• english
• french