POLS212-17S1 (C) Semester One 2017

International Political Economy

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 20 February 2017
End Date: Sunday, 25 June 2017
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 3 March 2017
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 19 May 2017

Description

This course examines the politics of global economic relations. It will focus on issues of international trade, the international monetary system, and foreign investment-and the relationship of each to both domestic and international politics. Among the specific topics to be discussed are: trade and protectionism, the role and performance of global institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, and WTO, the significance of multinational corporations, efforts at regional economic integration such as the EU and NAFTA, the relationship of the world economy to the economic development of poor countries, the emergence of new economic players such as China and India, and the relationship between economic strength and political power.

In this course we will examine the role of economics in the modern global political system. This involves understanding the modern financial institutions of the post-World War II world and how they have shaped global politics over time. We will look at three major theories that try to explain how the global political economy works: the liberal, neo-mercantilist, and structuralist perspectives. We also examine the system from the perspective of the globally powerful nations as well as from the viewpoint of developing nations.  Finally, we will look at some of the major problems that the system currently faces such as integration and the indebtedness of the developing world.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be aware of the current structure of the global political-economic system.

2. Students will be able to describe and critically assess the major theoretical perspectives that purport to explain the world system.

3. Students will be able to grasp the major policy issues and controversies that leaders face in the current political-economic system, and be capable of offering informed suggestions for how to deal with current problems.

4. Students will be able to critically assess current world events from a global international political economy perspective. Rather than viewing events as occurring randomly, students will be able to identify patterns in events that relate to structures and processes in the international system.

Prerequisites

15 points in POLS at 100-level. Students not meeting the prerequisites but with at least a B average in 60 points in appropriate courses may be admitted to take Political Science and International Relations courses at the 200-level with the approval of the Department coordinator.

Course Coordinator

Alex Tan

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Reaction Paper 20% 2000 words
Test 20% in class
Research Paper 35% 2000-2500 words
Final Exam 25%

Additional Course Outline Information

Where to submit and collect work

Essay boxes are located on the 5th floor Locke, outside the POLS office, Locke 501.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $732.00

International fee $2,975.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS212 Occurrences

  • POLS212-17S1 (C) Semester One 2017