This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
The module explores doctrines of state-economy relations and theories of international political economy in order to equip students with a capacity to analyse the complexities of an ever-more dynamic global economy in ways that the disciplines of economics and international relations on their own cannot capture. Our focus is on the transformation of democratic capitalism from its emergence as an institutionalised social order in the 19th century, to its 20th century modalities (the post-WWII welfare state and the late 20th century neoliberalism) to its current form.
Total contact hours: 24
Private study hours: 176
Total study hours: 200
MA International Political Economy
Essay, 5000 words (100%)
Reassessment methods: 100% coursework
Reading list (Indicative list, current at time of publication. Reading lists will be published annually)
Thomas Oatley, International Political Economy (Routledge, 2013: 5th Edition)
Darel E. Paul and Abla Amawi, The Theoretical Evolution of International Political Economy: A Reader*(Oxford University Press, 2013: 3rd edition)
Dani Rodrik, Straight Talk on Trade: Ideas for a Sane World Economy. Princeton University Press, 2017.
Dani Rodrik, The Globalization Paradox. Norton & Company. 2011.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Develop an understanding of the main theories, concepts, and approaches to International Political Economy, as they developed in historical perspective, in order to contextualise and situate the main debates within the recent evolution of the global political economic system;
2. Understand key structures of the international economy (trade, investment, finance, monetary matters, development regionalization, globalization, democratization) and place these in a theoretical and historical context;
3. Develop in depth analyses of key concepts used in the explanation of each structure of the international political economy;
4. Demonstrate and evaluate the utility of different modes of explanation in international political economy, while contextualising this sub-discipline within the discipline of International Relations as a whole;
5. Inculcate a critical and reflexive attitude towards various schools, approaches, paradigms, and traditions of interpretation in international political economy.
6. Apply theoretical perspectives to case studies.
7. Find, select, analyse, and use empirical material relating to international political economy;
8. Understand the scope and limits of extant theoretical concepts in light of developments in the globalizing international political economy;
9. Recognize the normative dimensions of choices about the allocations of resources, and the tools of governance in the international political economy.
10. Develop a more critical view of the capacities and limits of contemporary economic analysis and its policy implications.
11. Develop a degree of familiarity with the narrative of change in the post-war world economy
The intended generic learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. work with theoretical knowledge and apply theory to key policy issues
2. undertake analysis of complex, incomplete or contradictory areas of knowledge and make carefully constructed arguments
3. have a level of conceptual understanding that will allow them to critically evaluate research, policies, and practices and thus be better positioned to develop their own solutions to international challenges.
4. be reflective and self-critical in their work
5. engage in academic and professional communication with others
6. have independent learning ability required for further study or professional work
7. use the Internet, bibliographic search engines, online resources, and effectively conduct research
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