Module Catalogue 2024/25

POL2109 : Global Development: Introduction to International Political Economy (Inactive)

POL2109 : Global Development: Introduction to International Political Economy (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Matt Davies
  • Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module introduces students to the field of International Political Economy. This introduction will examine the history of contemporary processes of production, exchange, and accumulation; theories of political economy as they inform the study of international relations; and various themes and issues at the global scale that animate the organisation of political and economic life.

Outline Of Syllabus

Topics covered are likely to vary from year to year, depending on international events. The following outline should indicate a framework for these topics.

1. What is political economy?
1a. States and markets.
1b. Land, labour, and money.
1c. Commodification.
1d. Welfare and development
1e. Accumulation and exploitation.
2. What are the political economic foundations of International Relations?
2a. Colonialism
2b. Inequality
2c. The modern state and the modern state system.
2d. Modern international relations and the postcolonial context.
3. The IPE of production.
3a. Corporations as international actors.
3b. Global value chains.
3d. Consumption.
3e. Reproduction and social reproduction.
4. The IPE of circulation.
4a. Global markets as social relations.
4b. Finance and financialisation.
4c. Migration.
5. The IPE of accumulation.
5a. Institutions, governance, and governmentality.
5b. Capital.
6. The IPE of crisis and the crisis of IPE.
6a. Financial crises.
6b. Crises of reproduction: depletion.
6c. Environmental crises.
6d. Political crises.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1. To describe modern international relations as an outcome of colonialism and postcolonial politics.
2. To examine how modernity shapes our understanding of international politics and economics
3. To deploy key concepts from political economy in order to account for contemporary international politics.
4. To interpret the development of historical and contemporary international political economic relations.
5. To explain contemporary political problems from the perspective of global development.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1. To be able to read and understand contemporary scholarly writings on international political economy.
2. To be able to demonstrate competence in understanding and using key concepts from political economy.
3. To be able to analyse themes and issues in global development.
4. To be able to formulate research plans and investigate international political economic processes and effects in a local context.
5. To write a clear and accessible research essay.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture221:0022:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching101:0010:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery41:004:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1164:00164:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will provide the frameworks for and examples of best practices for outcomes 1 and 2. Seminar activities will be organised to allow students to practice, develop, and demonstrate achievement towards outcomes 3, 4, and 5, especially in relation to the development of research plans and presentation of preliminary findings regarding the consequences of global development in the local context (planning and presenting the findings for the research essay).

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Research paper2M803000 word research essay on IPE in local context
Research proposal2M20750 word research plan
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The research plan will be explained in the context of seminars and will be an exercise in research design and planning. Templates will be provided. These will be related to skills outcomes 4 and 5, especially regarding research, written communication, and group work.

The research essay will be a 3000-word short essay reporting findings from the research described in the research plan. The essay will apply conceptual and theoretical material covered in the module to local – i.e., in Newcastle – examples of the relations between forces and processes of the international political economy and everyday life. It will assess progress towards knowledge outcomes 3, 4, and 5 and skills outcomes 3, 4, and 5.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.