Theories and Issues in Contemporary Global Political Economy
Course content
The course has two-part structure. The first part offers an introduction to main theories and concepts of International Political Economy–IPE liberalism, IPE realism, IPE constructivism and critical IPE – and provides illustrations rom contemporary research of the four main domains of the global political economy – typically presented as trade, production, finance and consumption. The second part focuses on the distinct but interrelated transformations in the current world economy – the geoeconomic turn, the digital transformation, the green transition and the economic order transformation - and explores the current trends towards geopolitization, fragmentation, and deglobalization in the practice of economic statecraft, diplomacy and governance. In other words, the first part of the course looks at different understandings of the context for, whereas the different lines of transformation are examined in the second part.
The course is based on an understanding of these transformations are strategic battleground in a geoeconomic power struggle over the future of globalization as well as deeper transitions of markets and power that states cannot control. Industrial policy, competitiveness policy, sanctions policy, and protectionist trade policy have unintended effects. The world economy is fundamentally shaped by the clash between territorialized state power logic and de-territorialized market power logic.
The first part presents IPE theories as different lenses for observing and reflecting upon this interplay between power and markets. The second part will be case-based explorations of contemporary issues
Full-degree students enrolled at the Department of Political Science, UCPH
- MSc in Political Science
- MSc in Social Science
- MSc in Security Risk Management
- Bachelor in Political Science
Full-degree students enrolled at the Faculty of Social Science, UCPH
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Psychology
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Anthropology
- Master Programme in Social Data Science
- Master Programme in Global Development
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
- Open University students
Knowledge:
- Demonstrate knowledge of theories and concepts of global political economy
- Understand rules, institutions and processes involved in contemporary policy practices, including geoeconomic statecraft, trade policy. Investment policy, industrial policy, development policy and climate policy
- Understand relevant policy processes, in particular the EU but also the US and China, and within major sites in global economic governance, including UN, WTO, and OECD.
Skills:
- Demonstrate informed, convincing and precise knowledge of contemporary literature and research
- Make analytical evaluations of different approaches to the study of global political economy
- Ability to analysis
Competences:
- Analyse and reflect upon key contemporary issues and developments in global political eocnomy policy in the light of relevant historical, theoretical and methodological considerations.
- Translate knowledge about theories and concepts of GPE related policies into concrete empirical analysis and identify opportunities and challenges for future policy.
Mix of class-based lectures and group and in-class exercises.
Textbooks:
- Robert O’Brian & Marc Williams (2024): Global Political Economy – Evolution and Dynamics, 7th edition, Bloomsbury
- Erin Hannah and John Ravenhill (2024): Global Political Economy, 7th edition, Oxford University Press,
Articles, chapters:
- Luttwak, Edward (1990). “From Geopolitics to Geo-Economics: Logic of Conflict, Grammar of Commerce”, The National Interest, No. 20, Summer 1990, pp. 222-241.
- Wigell, M. & S. Scholvin (2018): Power politics by economic means: geoeconomics as an analytical approach and foreign policy practice. Comparative Strategy, Volume 37: 1. Routledge. pp. 1-13
- Susan Strange (1972): International Economics and International Relations: A Case of Mutual Neglect, International Affairs, 46: 2.
- Jonathan Kirshner (2009): “Realist political economy: Traditional themes and contemporary challenges”, I Mark Blyth (ed.), Routledge Handbook of International Political Economy – IPE as a global conversation, Routledge, 2009, pp. 33-47
- Henry Farrell, Abraham L. Newman (2019); “Weaponized Interdependence: How Global Economic Networks Shape State Coercion”, International Security 2019; 44 (1): 42–58, 74-79.
- T.S. Paul (2023): “Specter of Deglobalization.” Current History, pp. 3-8.
- Abdelal, R., Blyth, M., & Parsons, C. (2010). Introduction: Constructing the International Economy. In Constructing the International Economy (pp. 1–20). Cornell University Press.
- Herranz-Surrallés, A., Damro, C. and Eckert, S. (2024): ‘The Geoeconomic Turn of the Single European Market? Empirical Trends and Conceptual Challenges’. J. Common Market Studies, Vol. 62: 1.
- Matthew Paterson (2021) Climate change and international political economy: between collapse and transformation, Review of International Political Economy, 28:2, 394-405
- Bremmer, Ian & Mustafa Suleyman (2023): “The AI Power Paradox – Can States Learn to Govern Artificial Intelligence Before It’s Too Late?”, Foreign Affairs, September/October 2023, Vol. 102: 5, p. 26-43
- Matthijs, Matthias and Sophie Meunier (2023): Europe’s Geoeconomic Revolution, Foreign Affairs, September/October 2023,
- Farrell, Henry and Abraham Newman (2023): The New Economic Security State, Foreign Affairs, Volume 102: 6, pp. 106-122
- Mortensen, Jens L. (2020): “World Order: Lines of transformation” in E. Vivares (ed.), Routledge Handbook of International Political Economy. Routledge
- Jacqueline Best, Ambiguity, Uncertainty, and Risk: Rethinking Indeterminacy, International Political Sociology,2: 4, 2008, pp. 355–74
- Andrew Hurrell, Geopolitics and global economic governance, Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Volume 40, Issue 2, Summer 2024, pp. 220–33
Advanced knowledge of International Relations and European Politics. Basic knowledge of Economics.
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice- read more through this website.
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
- Open University students - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Three-day compulsory written take-home assignment.
See the section regarding exam forms in the programme curriculum for more information on guidelines and scope. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
-
In the semester where the course takes place: Three-day compulsory written take-home assignment
In subsequent semesters: Free written assignment
Criteria for exam assessment
Meet the subject's knowledge, skill and competence criteria, as described in the goal description, which demonstrates the minimally acceptable degree of fulfillment of the subject's learning outcome.
Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings
Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings
Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 28
- Preparation
- 71
- Exam Preparation
- 71
- Exam
- 36
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- ASTK18471U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Bachelor
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Studyboard
- Department of Political Science, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Political Science
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Psychology
- Social Data Science
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Jens Ladefoged Mortensen (3-6d6f70436c6976316e7831676e)
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