GI4054 - Global Wealth and Inequality: An Introduction to International Political Economy (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Global Wealth and Inequality: An Introduction to International Political Economy | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module introduces general debates in International Political Economy (IPE) about the relationship between politics and economics that shape our understanding of global issues and challenges. If focuses on how these global issues and challenges are addressed by relevant international actors and bodies and its consequences in terms of the distribution of global wealth and the persistence of inequality. Students will learn different theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of International Political Economy, the International Trade regime, and the main debates on International Development.
This module will provide students with introductory knowledge about the structure of global society with a focus on the economic dimension and the unequal distribution of wealth.
Prior learning requirements
None; Available for Study Abroad students
Syllabus
The syllabus will include:
1. International Political Economy: Concepts and Perspectives (LO 1, 5)
2. Classical Approaches to IPE I: Liberalism and neoliberalism (LO 1, 2, 3)
3. Classical Approaches to IPE II Keynesianism and Marxism (LO 1,2, 3)
4. Contemporary Approaches to IPE: Environmentalism and the green economy; Feminist Approaches (LO 1,2,3)
5. Economic Globalisation (LO 2,3, 4,5)
6. Growth and the International Trade Regime (LO 2, 3, 4,5)
7. Power and Inequality: Development (LO 2, 4)
8. Development Theories (LO 1, 5)
9. Aid and Development (LO 2,3, 4,5)
Learning and teaching
Sessions are made up of one hour lecture, one hour class activity and a seminar and workshops on specific topics. Students are expected to attend the lecture and engage in relevant discussions related to the topic, raise questions and demand clarifications. The seminars are meant for students to freely discuss a given topic. In addition, two to three workshops consisting of two hours each will be run within this 15-week period and decided with beforehand with students. The workshops will imply a reorganisation of the class activity and seminar on that teaching day. The two-hour workshops will involve a class activity, whether individual or in a group and will involve the submission of a piece of work that will form part of the student’s assessment.
Students are expected to engage with the Virtual Learning Environment; be able to retrieve ‘posts’ from the lectures and supplementary teaching materials, and handle information from Internet sources, journals and books (enhancing academic literacy). Students acquire knowledge of issues, theories and themes under discussion. Classwork is a guided activity that enhances a broad understanding of key concepts by reflecting on specific aspects or developments related to the theme under discussion. Classwork contributes to group-work and the acquisition of communication (oral and written) skills in a context of higher education. Seminar discussions around a main question enhance communication and problem-solving skills and ‘real world’ group-work. Reading and the use of other media-related formats as a common exercise for reflection in the classroom develops critical and conceptual skills, as well as numeracy and analysis. Written and formative feedback aims to empower students, develop their written expression, and study skills, and gain through self-reflection.
Learning outcomes
In this module you will:
1. Learn main theoretical debates on IPE
2. Gain an understanding the contemporary international economic regime and the globalization process
3. Acquire basic skills about reading and understanding macroeconomic data published by relevant organisations.
4. Develop skills for comparative analysis
5. Develop writing and communicating skills
Assessment strategy
Summative assessments.
1. Text commentary. Students will be provided two-three texts to comment, and they should choose one. Text commentary will be of 1000-1200 words and has to show evidence (either by referring to the topics or examples) of relation to what has been taught and discussed in class. In addition, students need to answer three questions on the commentary between week 10-12 in class.
2. Submission of a sample of work resulting from class activity, individual or in group. Students can decide which sample they want to choose as counting toward their assessment.
3. 10% of the final grade will be based on engagement and performance in class activities.