992227 Reframing International Political Economy

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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

Description

In today’s globalised world an interdisciplinary understanding of International Political Economy is useful for careers across business, government, diplomacy, and the NGO sphere. Students analyse the myriad of interactions between politics and the economy in this subject, rather than technical aspects of economics. Students explore the range of actors in the global political economy, including the role of states, international organisations, and multinational corporations. These actors are analysed using a range of both traditional theories within the discipline of International Political Economy alongside critical theories to illuminate different aspects of power and politics. A range of case studies are introduced such as environmental change, international development, and the Global Financial Crisis. Students analyse key contemporary and historical case studies and make recommendations on how transnational challenges can be better addressed. The subject draws on diverse theoretical perspectives, empirical data, and case studies to provide a holistic understanding of the global economy and the critical role of governance in shaping its future.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (INT = International Studies CILOs):

• Apply advanced understanding of international relations theories and concepts to the analysis of real-world case studies and complex global issues. (2.1)
• Effectively communicate evidence-based solutions to complex global issues using advanced research methods and data analysis techniques. (6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

Students are guided through a series of six online modules framed around active learning.

Each module draws on a wide range of contemporary and historical empirical and theoretical content. Students engage interactively through online discussion boards, embedded comments, and are scaffolded towards conducting their own critical analysis to address key challenges in international politics.

This subject uses an authentic learning approach with students developing a policy brief to communicate their analysis to key audiences. Students practice and refine the application of core theories within International Political Economy to key contemporary challenges. Synchronous online seminars provide an opportunity to revise key concepts, further develop connections with other students, and to prepare for assessments. Students receive formative feedback on assignment tasks both from their lecturers and peers, including early formative feedback.

Content (topics)

In this subject, learning is scaffolded around the application of core theories in International Political Economy across a wide range of actors and a range of contemporary case studies. Students develop skills in communicating complex analysis to an informed but non-expert audience as a core workplace skill. Students participate in collaborative activities to share insights and observations with peers from a variety of professional contexts. Learning builds across the subject to expand students' knowledge of the theories, actors, and case studies and what these mean for the global political economy. Students develop and refine their own recommendations for how key challenges could be addressed in a more effective or equitable manner.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Critical Analysis

Assessment task 2: Policy Brief

Minimum requirements

There is no minimum requirement for this subject.

Required texts

There are no required texts for this subject. Recommended readings will be available via UTS Library and the subject site.

References

Atzeni, M., Azzellini, D., Mezzadri, A., Moore, P., & Apitzsch, U. (Eds.). (2023). Handbook of research on the global political economy of work. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Baars, G. (2016). “It’s not me, it’s the corporation”: the value of corporate accountability in the global political economy. London Review of International Law, 4(1), 127–163.

Barnett, M. N., & Finnemore, Martha. (2004). Rules for the world: international organizations in global politics. Cornell University Press.

Broome, A., (2014). Issues and Actors in the Global Political Economy (1st ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.

Cafruny, Alan., Talani, L. Simona., & Pozo Martin, Gonzalo. (Eds.). (2016). The Palgrave Handbook of Critical International Political Economy (1st ed. 2016.). Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Campbell-Verduyn, M., Linsi, L., Metinsoy, S., & van Roozendaal, G. (2021). COVID-19 and the Global Political Economy: Same as it Never Was? Global Perspectives (Oakland, Calif.), 2(1).

Clapp, J., & Helleiner, E. (2012). International political economy and the environment: back to the basics? International Affairs (London), 88(3), 485–501.

Cormier, B. (2023). Chinese or western finance? Transparency, official credit flows, and the international political economy of development. Review of International Organizations, 18(2), 297–328.

Ghosh, P. (2024). International Political Economy: Contexts, Issues and Challenges (1st edition., Vol. 1). Routledge.

Harold James, (2022) How not to solve a financial crisis, International Affairs, 98(5), 1575–1593.

Katz-Rosene, R., & Paterson, M. (2018). Thinking Ecologically About the Global Political Economy (First edition.). Taylor and Francis.

Kukucha, C. J., & Anderson, G. (2016). International political economy. Oxford University Press.

Nicola Phillips, Power and inequality in the global political economy, International Affairs, Volume 93, Issue 2, 1 March 2017, Pages 429–444.

O'Brien, R., & Williams, M. (2020). Global Political Economy (6th ed.). Bloomsbury UK.

Paquin, A., (2016). Theories of International Political Economy: An Introduction (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.

Paterson, M. (2021). Climate change and international political economy: between collapse and transformation. Review of International Political Economy: RIPE, 28(2), 394–405.

Reisman, D. A. (2023). Global political economy: beyond the nation state (Second edition.). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Upadhyay, V., & Singh, P. (2021). Global Political Economy: A Critique of Contemporary Capitalism (1st edition). Taylor & Francis.

Vivares, E. (Ed.). (2020). The Routledge handbook to global political economy: conversations and inquiries. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Xing, L. (Ed.). (2019). The international political economy of the BRICS. Routledge.