POLIS 2130 - International Political Economy

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020

The gap between the rich and the poor is getting larger in the 21st Century. How? Why are America and China fighting over international trade rules? Why can?t young Australians afford to buy a house anymore? How are economics and security joined at the hip? Why do women get paid less than men? Can free markets deliver enough food to feed the earth?s ever-expanding population? What are crypto-currencies, and how do they challenge traditional forms of monetary exchange? Who runs the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund? Are the markets gearing up for World War Three? International political economy links economics to politics, international relations, security and culture. First, this course will begin with an historical view of IPE, beginning with the International Slave Trade prior to the emergence of Pax Britannica in the 17th and 18th Centuries; through Industrial Revolutions and two world wars; and up until the present day tussle between the two great powers of the 21st Century: the United States and China. This course then explores how economy, politics, security and culture interact with one another in a broad spectrum of areas, such as: the political economy of international trade and security; the global division of labour between the `haves and have-nots?; the nature of transnational production; and the political economy of money, central banking, international finance and multinational corporations. The course will enable students to gain a better understanding of current issues: the evolution of global financial crises; the United Kingdom?s BREXIT and Greece?s GREXIT processes; the emergence of a US-led Indo-Pacific economic and security coalition in response to the rise of China; the unequal position of women and children in local and global economies; the challenge to traditional ideas of IPE being posed by green and progressive movements; and the Global Food Crisis.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code POLIS 2130
    Course International Political Economy
    Coordinating Unit Politics and International Relations
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study
    Incompatible POLI 2130
    Assessment Tutorial participation 10%, Tutorial presentation 10%, Course test 1 15%, Course test 2 20%, Major essay 45%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Matthew Cuzack

    Phone: 08 8313 4489 - Email: timothy.doyle@adelaide.edu.au

    Campus: North Terrace - Office: Napier Building, Room 509

    Communication: Arrange appointments via email (weekdays only)
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1 have gained an understanding of the range of perspectives on international political economy issues;
    2 be able to identify and explain the political dimensions of economic issues, while understanding the particular historical, cultural and social contexts in which they arise;
    3 be able to apply theoretical tools in the analysis of issues of political economy;
    4 be able to identify and formulate effective arguments; and
    5 have increased confidence in their ability to communicate, to think critically, and to participate as a member of a group.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2, 3
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    4, 5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2, 3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    2, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The following textbook is ESSENTIAL. It will be used for the course’s entirety and is the basis of the content of the class tests.

    Robert O’Brien and Marc Williams, Global Political Economy, Fifth Edition, London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.

    Other readings (to be uploaded to MyUni) will also be essential reading in preparation for the tests.
    Recommended Resources

    There is a very useful overview of political-economy related websites published in:

    Abhijit Sharma and Richard Woodward, ‘Political Economy Websites: A researcher’s Guide’, New Political Economy, 6(1), 2001, 119-130.
    Online Learning
    Additional course-related material is available through MyUni.

    The following documents will be available via MyUni:
    lecture content, course profile, explanation of assessment tasks, additional readings.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The division of the course into three parts seeks to provide a balance of theoretical and empirical material. This material will be predominantly delivered through lecture-style presentations, as it is information intensive, reflecting the established research interests of the co-ordinator. Smaller group teaching will take place in the tutorials. Like all courses in the Politics Discipline, the teacher promotes the development of critical and analytic skills, and is built upon the need for students to communicate their ideas in both written essays, and through oral expression in these smaller tutorial groups. Apart from student presentations, these group sessions will be used to address teaching and learning problems/issues, which will potentially arise during the course; as well as providing an opportunity to relate the lecture material with international political economy issues as they emerge in the media.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS
    1 x 2-hour lecture (or equivalent) per week 24 hours per semester
    1 x 1-hour tutorial (or equivalent) per week 12 hours per semester
    4 hours reading per week 48 hours per semester
    2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester
    2 hours assignment preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    2 hours class preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week 1 Welcome, Logistics and Outline of Course
    Week 2 What is International Political Economy?
    Week 3 Forging a World Economy
    Week 4 Industrial Revolution, Pax Britannica and Free Trade
    Week 5 The End of the Old Order?
    Week 6 Course Test - Part 1
    Week 7 Transnational Production
    Week 8 International Trade and Security
    Week 9 Global Division of Labour
    Week 10 The Global Financial System
    Week 11 The Green Economy
    Week 12 Course Test - Part 2
    Specific Course Requirements
    Not applicable.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Tutorials will include small-group activities and semi-structured discussions designed to provide students with a fulfilling 'small group discovery experience'. Students will also present small-group research projects in tutorials, assessed by the course coordinator.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome
    Tutorial Participation Formative and Summative 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Tutorial Presentation Formative and Summative 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Course Test - Part 1 Summative 15% 1, 2
    Course Test - Part 2 Summative 20% 1, 2
    Research Essay Formative and Summative 45% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Assessment Related Requirements
    The research essay must be submitted both through the Assignments link and to Turnitin (both on MyUni).
    Assessment Detail
    Tutorial Participation (10%): students interacting in class activities and sharing of materials and information.

    Tutorial Presentation (10%): Students will be expected to present a media analysis of a current controversy or issue in international political economy. The presentation will include handing up a powerpoint or a one page summary of the substance of the argument in (annotated) bullet points, including references.

    Course Tests (35%): Based on course text and lecture material, these two one-hour tests will allow students to demonstrate their grasp of basic concepts conveyed in the course. They will comprise multiple choice questions.

    Research Essay (45%): Students will required to write a critical (i.e., theoretically informed) research essay using theories, concepts, methods and empirical information covered in the module. Word-count: 2500 words.
    Submission
    The major essay must be submitted both through the Assignments link and to Turnitin (both on MyUni).

    The official procedure to apply for extensions is: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html

    Students must apply for extensions through the official procedure unless:

    1. The student is only requesting a short extension of two days or less
    2. The assessment is worth 20% or less.
    3. The student is registered with the Disability Office and has a Disability Access Plan.

    Late essays without an extension will be penalised at the rate of 2% per day.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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