Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

1. To familiarise students with key doctrines of international political economy (IPE) and understand them in their historical context

2. To introduce students to a parallel analysis of the intellectual history of IPE thought alongside the history of the world economy and 'historical capitalism'

3. To help students to systematically focus on the role of the state and changes in its role according to changes in conditions in the world economy

4. To encourage students to assess the social and political forces at work in the long term historical development of a capitalist world system; appreciating continuity as well as discontinuity, order as well as disorder, progress as well as crisis

Outline Of Syllabus

Original summary:

POL 8018 examines the content and historical development of political economic theory from the emergence of capitalism to the current global political economic crisis. In examining these theories, the module is concerned with:

1.       Understanding the historical context in which they developed
2.       The role of the state (what role do theories attribute to the state; how did the state shape the formation of these theories and vice versa)
3.       Political economic crises (what do these theories say about how and why crises occur; what role do crises play in shaping political economy thought)

These key concerns are reflected in the syllabus for the module, which begins with a discussion of the origins of capitalism and mercantilism, before discussing the political economic thought of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes. In doing so, the module also discusses classical and emerging theories of imperialism and the causes/consequences of the Great Depression. From here, the module focuses on more contemporary developments in political economy, including the crisis of the 1970s, neoliberalism and the crisis of 2008.

The syllabus is as follows:

1.       What is political economy?
2.       Historical capitalism
3.       Mercantilism
4.       Adam Smith
5.       Karl Marx
6.       John Maynard Keynes
7.       Neoliberalism, globalisation and the state
8.       Global financial crisis - crash 1
9.       Global financial crisis - crash 2
10.       Post-capitalism?

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should have acquired:
1. a developed knowledge and understanding of the key doctrines of IPE and their historical context, with a focus on the composition and changing role of the state

2. a knowledge of the history of thought in the IPE tradition and of the history of the capitalist world economy

Intended Skill Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should have acquired:

1. skills of oral presentation, argument and interaction in seminars

2. writing skills to present material which is empirically, methodologically and theoretically sound

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Rationale and relationship to learning outcomes: The 2-hour weekly seminar will involve a combination of a presentation by the module leader and discussion based around presentations by students. The themes of the seminars will relate to the theoretical, methodological and substantive issues outlined in the module aims. The seminar-based teaching and learning methods will enable students to develop employment-related skills such as interpersonal communication, oral presentation, teamwork, planning and organising, information literacy and problem solving.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The research essay is an appropriate way of assessing research and writing skills as well as the ability of students to apply what they learn in seminar to research questions relevant to their programmes.

General Notes

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