Guías Académicas

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

Estudios Globales / Global Studies

Curso 2023/2024

1. Subject Information

(Date last modified: 10-10-23 8:44)
Code
140502
Plan
405
ECTS
6.00
Type
Basic
Year
1
Duration
First semester
Language
ENGLISH
Area
ECONOMÍA APLICADA
Departament
Economía Aplicada
Virtual platform

Campus Virtual de la Universidad de Salamanca

Professor Information

Profesor/Profesora
Javier Sierra Pierna
Group/s
Único
Centre
Fac. Derecho
Office
113 (Facultad de Derecho)
Office hours
Tuesday (from 16:00 to 18:00)
Web address
https://derecho.usal.es/staff/sierra-pierna-javier/
E-mail
jsierra@usal.es
Phone
923294500 ext.1689

2. Association of the subject matter within the study plan

Curricular area to which the subject matter pertains.

Global Economy

Purpose of the subject within the curricular area and study plan.

In a period of growing and uneven globalization, it is essential to understand the role of States, international organizations, and other key stakeholders working to enhance global economic growth and reduce economic and social disparities. The course on International Political Economy, within the area of Global Economy from the Grade on Global Studies, will help students to contextualize theoretical discussions and place current events in historical, economic, political and social context. These are basic elements to allow students to identify and analyze current global challenges, to understand how the global economy works, and to explore the ways in which globalization affects our lives.

Professional profile.

Public sector, private sector, research, international cooperation, consulting, academia, and public policy development and analysis, among others.

3. Prerequisites

No specific previous skills are required.

4. Learning objectives

The main objective of the course is to allow students to identify theories and methods applied in the area of Economics to understand international relations and analyze the global economy.

5. Contents

Theory.

Part I: Perspectives on International Political Economy

1. Introduction to International Political Economy

2. Economic Liberalism

3. Mercantilism

4. Structuralism

5. Constructivism

Part II: Structures of International Political Economy

6. The Global Production Structure

7. The International Trade Structure

8. The International Finance and Monetary Structure

9. The Global Security Structure

10. The International Knowledge Structure

Practice.

The course on International Political Economy includes a combination of three different practical activities:

  • Seminars: Students will analyze suggested texts and undertake writing activities every week. Students will have to present written essays with their own thoughts and conclusions through Studium, and participate in class discussion and debates.
  • Readings: A set of books are recommended. Students have to read at least one of the books and write a short essay answering a set of questions provided by the teacher. A debate will be organized in class.
  • Practical Simulation: A Simulations (practical activity) of the decision-making process at the international level will be organized to allow students to get a first-hand experience of the complexities of political and economic negotiation.

6. Competences acquired

Basic / General.

BS1. Students must demonstrate to understand and manage specific knowledge for this area of study, based on general higher education. This knowledge is commonly based on advanced text books, but may also include some aspects belonging to the forefront of its area of study.

BS2. Students must demonstrate to know how to apply the acquired knowledge to their professional career or to their vocation in a professional way, and to have all required competencies that are usually demonstrated by building and defending arguments, and by solving problems within the area of study.

BS3. Students must show ability to gather and interpret relevant data, usually from their area of study, to make judgements based on a reflection on relevant topics from a social, scientific and ethical perspective.

BS4. Students must be able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized and non-specialized audience.

GS1. To apply the acquired knowledge to solve specific problems in new or unknown environments, within a wider (or multidisciplinary) contexts.

GS2. To know and apply several research methods in the area of social sciences with the purpose of analyzing problems linked to their area of expertise.

GS3. To develop organizational skills, task planning and project coordination, in order to foster teamwork.

GS4. To develop a set of skills to design and implement plans and problem-solving programs, from a global and multidisciplinary perspective.

Specific.

SS2. To understand the historical dimension of political and social processes at the international level.

SS9. To know and understand the basic notions of Political Economy, and its financial and commercial dimensions.

SS13. To identify and understand the different decision-making and problem-solving mechanisms within he international context.

7. Teaching methods

Master classes and practical sessions. Both formats require active participation by students.

8. Anticipated distribution of the use of the different teaching methods

9. Resources

Reference books.

Basic text book:

Balaam, David N. and Bradford Dillman (2018). Introduction to International Political Economy. Routledge

Additional references:

Barma, Naazneen, and Vogel, Steven Kent (edit.) (2022). The political economy reader: contending perspectives and contemporary debates. Second Edition. New York: Routledge, 2021

Lairson, Thomas D., and David Skidmore (2017). International Political Economy. The Struggle for Power and Wealth in a Globalizing World. Routledge.

Ravenhill, John (2016). Global Political Economy. 5th edition. Oxford University Press.

C. Miller, Raymond (2018). International Political Economy. Contrasting World Views. 2nd edition. Routledge.

Recommended readings:

Rodrik, Dani (2017). Straight Talk on Trade: Ideas for a Sane World Economy. Princeton University Press.

Stiglitz, Joseph (2017). Globalization and its Discontents Revisited. Penguin.

Chang, Ha-Joon (2011). 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism. Penguin.

Irwin, Douglas A. (2015) Free Trade Under Fire. Princeton University Press

Westover, Jonathan H. (2017). International Political Economy: Facing Global Challenges. Common Ground Publishing.

Badie, Bertrand (2018). New Perspectives on the International Order: No Longer Alone in this World. The Sciences Po Series in International Relations and Political Economy. Palgrave.

10. Assessment

General considerations.

Students must demonstrate a sufficient level of the required general, basic and specific skills to pass the course.

Assessment criteria.

The evaluation includes theory and practice, and it is structured in two different parts: continuous evaluation and a final exam. Continuous work and the final exam represent 50 % and 50 % of the final grade, respectively. It is mandatory to successfully perform on both parts of the evaluation to pass the course (At least 25% of the grade on each).

Assessment tools.

Continuous evaluation (50 % of the final grade):

Seminars (Weekly practical activities): 20 % of the final grade.

Reading: 10 % of the final grade.

Simulation or another active learning activity: 20 % of the final grade.

Final exam (50% of the final grade):

The final exam includes theoretical and practical knowledge acquired over the course. It will be based on the concepts studied in the master classes and the weekly seminars.

Assessment recommendations.

Constant work during the different activities in which the continuous evaluations is divided. Active participation in theoretical classes and seminars.

Guidelines in the case of failing the subject.

Constant work during the different activities in which the continuous evaluations is divided. Active participation in theoretical classes and seminars.

11. Weekly teaching organization