INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY - 2020/1

Module Overview

The module provides an opportunity for students to apply their understanding of key theories and debates in International Political Economy (IPE) to current developments and case studies. Students will be able to discuss and debate the role of the main IPE institutions. Current and future challenges to the status quo of IPE are discussed as well.

Module provider

Politics

Module Leader

KAEDING Malte (Politics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 25

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

none

Module content

The first part of the course introduces students to the main perspectives with a strong focus on theoretical approaches in IPE. The second part focuses on the historical development of the international political economy since the Industrial Revolution. The third part focuses upon contemporary issues and debates in the subject, grouped around the organising theme of development and 'globalisation'. The emphasis of the course is not upon the technical aspects of international economics or economic theory, but rather upon the political and institutional context in which they operate. Therefore an economics background is not required for this course, but advanced knowledge of the theoretical foundations of international politics strongly recommended.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• Critical engagement with the relevant literature, e.g. to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key debates in IPE


• Demonstrate understanding of the need to apply theoretical arguments to the analysis of actual events and actions


• Demonstrate capacity to apply theoretical arguments to the analysis of contemporary developments in IPE.


• Identify appropriate and feasible area for analysis


• Identify and apply appropriate methodological approach


• Demonstration of excellent study, research and team-working skills

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Presentation


• Country briefing paper


• Examination

Assessment deadlines advised prior to the beginning of each semester.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will receive verbal feedback on their performance during lectures/seminars, and in one to one meetings during office hours. Additionally, students will receive brief feedback on their presentation and individual feedback on their on their country briefing paper by the module leader. They also receive written feedback on the presentations by peers. Feedback is module-specific but is also designed to be used for feedforward to other aspects of the degree programme as well.

Module aims

• To provide students with an advanced background in the competing international and comparative political economy approaches to the subject with a strong focus on their theoretical underpinnings
• To deepen understanding of political economy issues and debates surrounding the contemporary world economy, with particular emphasis on the causes and implications of globalisation
• To develop a critical perspective towards the role of the main IPE institutions
• To develop critical debating and argumentation skills

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Develop students’ capacities as independent learners, to deepen their knowledge and understanding of theoretical and empirical issues in IPE. It requires students to develop their research and critical thinking skills and to manage large sets of data appropriately. In addition, individual presentations will allow students to develop transferable skills. Students are given the opportunity to formulate their own lines of enquiry, thus developing and testing their skills in respect of making appropriate critical judgments in respect of both theory and empirics.

The learning and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, independent study, presentations, prescribed reading, group discussions and a simulation exercise. Classes are run in 2 hour sessions at different times in the semester over an 11 week period. After the first weeks, one hour lectures will introduce students to the subject matter, which will subsequently be discussed in weekly hour-long seminars. Borders between lectures and seminars are fluid and lectures are held in a discursive style. The final class will be a simulation exercise for which students are allocated roles and have to provide an assessed briefing paper. Students will be expected to contribute actively during seminars, having prepared to contribute to discussions based on the reading material. They will engage in assessed presentations and are required to actively debate issues in a well-informed fashion. This class will be taught without any use of the Microsoft PowerPoint program or any technical support, students are thus required to actively participate and take notes during classes/seminars.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POLM019

Other information

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.