IPM116 THEORIES OF GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
This module introduces students to different theoretical traditions within global political economy (GPE). It provides in-depth knowledge of the rich intellectual history of GPE as it has developed over time. Some of the foundational questions explored in the module include: What does it mean to theorize and what are the essential building blocks of any GPE theory? When and where do we locate the origins of GPE? What are the normative and political assumptions embedded within competing accounts of the field’s inception? What are the strengths and weaknesses of various theoretical approaches in GPE? What do contemporary GPE theories appropriate (and misappropriate) from the classical theories of political economy that emerged during the early history of capitalism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries? Rather than deal with the subject matter in the abstract, the module makes a concerted effort to situate the theoretical frameworks within the historical context in which they emerged, and to relate the main debates and controversies to contemporary issues in global capitalism.
By the end of this module, students will be familiar with key authors and approaches in GPE and will be able to draw contemporary lessons from historical scholarship. The ultimate aim is to equip students with the skills needed to engage in theory-building for the purposes of their own research projects, especially the dissertation.
Related blog post: What is (Global) Political Economy?
Latest Syllabus: 2020/21