Political Science 323
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
Course Description and Objectives
This course provides a basic introduction to the politics of international economics. We begin with a critical review of competing theoretical perspectives in the discipline. These perspectives are then employed to analyze the contemporary political economy, placing special focus on monetary relations, foreign trade, foreign investment, and the emergence of a global labor market. The next section considers north-south relations and the subordinate position of developing countries in the international division of labor. The course concludes with analysis of ongoing systemic transformations, most notably global and regional integration. The central purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to critically interpret state-market relations in the current global order.
Course Requirements
Each student will be expected to fulfill the following course requirements.
1. Complete each week=s readings in advance and actively participate in class sessions. Class attendance is required.
2. Take two prelim exams, to be administered on October 1st and November 5th.
3. Write a 8 - 10 page research paper which outlines and explains a contemporary issue in international political economy. Paper guidelines will be passed out in class. A brief description of your intended paper topic is due on October 10th and the paper itself is due on November 16th. Papers cannot be rewritten after the due date and will be marked down 3 points for each day they are late.
4. Take a final exam at the end of the semester.
(Students should notify me of any special needs.)
(Please complete on-line course evaluation at the end of the semester.)
Grading
: Final grades will be calculated according to the following percentages:
Attendance and Participation 20%
First Exam 20%
Second Exam 20%
Research Paper 20%
Final Exam 20%
Students are expected to comply with the University Honor Pledge
I pledge to support the Honor System at The University. I will refrain from any form of dishonesty or deception, such as lying, cheating, or plagiarizing, which are Honor violations. I am further aware that as a member of the academic community, it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the Honor System. I will report to an Honor Council if summoned.
Grading Scale
A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66
D- 60-62 F 59 or less
Course Materials
: The following books constitute the required texts for this course and are available for purchase from the Old Dominion University Bookstore.
Theodore H. Cohn. Global Political Economy: Theory and Practice. 4th edition, New York: Longman, 2008.
Jeffrey A. Frieden and David A. Lake (eds.) International Political Economy: Perspectives on Global Power and Wealth. 4th edition, Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin
=s, 2000.
COURSE OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION: STATES AND MARKETS
II. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
A. Liberalism
B. Realism
C. Structuralism
III. COMPONENT PARTS
A. Foreign Exchange
B. International Trade
C. Foreign Investment
D. Labor Mobility
IV. DEVELOPMENT AND DEPENDENCY
A. North-South Divide
B. Debt and Adjustment
C. Aid and Global Economic Reform
V. CONTEMPORARY CHANGE
A. Globalization
B. Regional Integration
C. Gender
D. Environment
VI. CONCLUSION: CHARTING THE FUTURE
Reading Assignments
I. INTRODUCTION: STATES AND MARKETS August 27-29
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 1, AIntroduction.@
Frieden and Lake,
AIntroduction: International Politics and International Economics.@
II. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
A. Liberalism August 31
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 4, AThe Liberal Perspective.@
B. Realism September 5
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 3, AThe Realist Perspective.@
C. Structuralism September 7-10
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 5, AThe Historical Structuralist Perspective.@
III. COMPONENT PARTS
A. Foreign Exchange September 12-14
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 6,
AInternational Monetary Relations.
@
Benjamin Cohen,
AThe Triad and Unholy Trinity: Problems of International Monetary Cooperation.@ Chapter 15 in Frieden and Lake.
Jeffrey Frieden,
AExchange Rate Politics,
@ Chapter 16 in Frieden and Lake.
B. International Trade September 17-19
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 8,
AGlobal Trade Relations.
@
Stephen Krasner,
AState Power and the Structure of International Trade,
@ Chapter 1 in Frieden and Lake.
Cletus Coughlin, K. Alec Chrystal and Geoffrey E. Wood,
AProtectionist Trade Policies: A Survey of Theory, Evidence, and Rationale,
@ Chapter 19 in Frieden and Lake.
C. Foreign Investment September 21-24
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 10, AMultinational Corporations and Global Production.@
Richard Caves,
AThe Multinational Enterprise as an Economic Organization,
@ Chapter 9 in Frieden and Lake.
David Fieldhouse,
AA New Imperial System:? The Role of Multinational Corporations Reconsidered,
@Chapter 11 in Frieden and Lake.
D. Labor Mobility September 26-28
Richard Freeman,
AAre Your Wages Set in Beijing?@ Chapter 22 in Frieden and Lake.
IV. DEVELOPMENT AND DEPENDENCY
A. North-South Divide October 3-17
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 11,
AInternational Development.
@ Also re-read pp. 100-104.
Robin Broad, John Cavanagh and Walden Bello,
ADevelopment: The Market is Not Enough,
@ Chapter 26 in Frieden and Lake.
B. Debt and Adjustment October 19-22
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 7,
AForeign Debt and Financial Crises.
@
C. Aid and Global Economic Reform October 24 - Nov. 2
Theodore Cohn,
AThe South and Global Trade Issues,@ pp. 213-218.
Joseph Stiglitz and Lyn Squire,
AInternational Development: Is it Possible?@ Chapter 25 in Frieden and Lake.
V. CONTEMPORARY CHANGE
A. Globalization November 7-12
Theodore Cohn,
AGlobalization,
@ pp. 369-378 and AFormation of the World Trade Organization,@ pp. 208-211 and AThe WTO and the Global Trade Regime,
@ pp. 212-213.
Jeffrey Williamson,
AGlobalization and Inequality, Past and Present,
@ Chapter 27 in Frieden and Lake.
Philip Cerny,
AGlobalization and the Changing Logic of Collective Action,
@ Chapter 30 in Frieden and Lake.
Dani Rodrik,
ASense and Nonsense in the Globalization Debate,
@ Chapter 31 in Frieden and Lake.
B. Regional Integration November 14-16
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 9,
ARegionalism and the Global Trade Regime.
@ Also re-read pp. 140-144.
Ronald Cox,
AExplaining Business Support for Regional Trade Agreements,
@ Chapter 24 in Frieden and Lake.
C. Gender November 19-26
Theodore Cohn, pp. 109-110, 349-351.
D. Environment November 28-December 3
Alison Butler,
AEnvironmental Protection and Free Trade: Are They Mutually Exclusive?@ Chapter 29 in Frieden and Lake.
VI. CONCLUSION: CHARTING THE FUTURE December 5-7
Theodore Cohn, Chapter 12,
ACurrent Trends in the Global Political Economy.
