The Geoeconomics of the Green Transition
Course content
Geo-economics is a widely typically understood as the use of economic power tools in foreign policy and geopolitics. It has recently been rediscovered within International Political Economy (IPE), especially realist IPE. However, geo-economics is more than economic state power tool, it is more than geopolitics. Geo-economics offers a range of strategies and power instruments for state and non-state actors in the strategic struggle over future power position, in the race for competitiveness, growth, and technological supremacy. The course is explorative, in the sense that it sees geo-economics is closely linked to strategic domains of globalization, and as such, it is inevitably linked to the green transition.
The course is project-focused. It will however introduce key approaches within IPE discipline: realism (economic statecraft, hegemony debates), liberalism (economic diplomacy, trade governance), and contructivisms (uncertainty, the geoeconomic turn, framings and futurizations). To enable case-bases studies, the course outlines three distinct analytical models—a realist foreign policy analysis of green economic statecraft, a liberal negotiation analysis of two-level games, and constructivist process analysis. The course will also explore how the growth debate of Green IPE relates to geoeconomic fragmentation (post-growth, green growth vs. degrowth). Geo-economics is basically referring to the increased reliance of economic warfare – but it is essential to identify the underlying ideational and strategic purpose of geoeconomic practices.
The course examines the interaction between the green transition and a changing global economy through the concept of "geo-economics" as well as theories in international political economy. It explores how "fragmentation in the global economy" and “word order” has influenced or may influence the policies grouped under the term "green transition." Empirically, the primary focus is the European Green Deal, particularly its green diplomatic leadership, the trade and industrial policy aspects, and the impact of recent economic security and competitiveness thinking. How are new understandings of ‘strategic interests’ influencing the green transition? Beyond the EU, other major sources of transformation, such as the U.S., China and other major economies. How is the ongoing trade war influencing the green transition? The course is premised on the understanding of the green transition as a strategic battleground in a geo-economic struggle over the future of globalization. This will be challenged by alternative perspectives throughout the course. The green transition is shaped by the interaction between states and firms, investors and consumers.
The first part of the course looks at different understandings of geopolitical, geoeconomics and institutional context of the green transition. For some, the green transition is a distinct policy area, while others see it as a "normal" political issue. The course views the green transition as a strategic domain driven by "economic securitization," particularly energy and resources, intense competitive pressure, an uncertain world order, and undeniable evidence of climate change.
The second part offers a more case-based examination of how and to what extent the green transition can be analyzed as a form of geo-economic struggle over globalization. Case studies will range from green energy promotion, resource consumption, and circular economy to trade restrictions (import bans, labeling rules) and selected campaigns (plastic, tropical timber, etc.). It explores how and to what extent "green trade policy" has evolved into "green tech and industrial policy" by examining the impact of the trade war, use of trade policy instruments (carbon border tariffs, import restrictions, trade agreements), industrial policy instruments (state aid, investment attraction), green state policy instruments (technology promotion, infrastructure, research( and the impact of competitiveness policy in general. Finally alternative governance tools, ranging from "transformative governance" (including participation, dialogues, visibility, accountability, traceability and legal governance) are examined, which involve a broader range of actors, beyond states and firms
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
- 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 solid knowledge of theories and concepts within international and global political economy, sustainability, fundamental institutions in global economic governance, climate policy, and the economic foreign policy of powerful actors, including energy, industrial and competitiveness policy, trade and investment policy, and green transition policy.
- Explain the political process and dynamics in chosen issue areas within climate-related economic foreign policy.
Skills:
- Understand and apply theories and concepts from international and global political economy and international climate cooperation.
- Demonstrate analytical and communication skills in a specific area of climate-related international and global political economy.
Competences:
- Written communication skills.
Classes consist of two-hours lectures and class discussions, 1 hour groupwork of case, and final discussions, including short presentations. External lectures, such as policy experts and practitioners. The final weeks of the course will focus on group and/or individual supervision. Two sessions will be dedicated to approaches to case studies, and to qualitative methods.
Illustrative readings:
- Robert O’Brian & Marc Williams (2016): Theories of Global Political Economy, i Global Political Economy – Evolution and Dynamics, 5th edition, Palgrave, 2016 (replaced with new edition)
- John Ravenhill (2020): “The Study of Global Political Economy”, i Global Political Economy, Oxford University Press,
- Luttwak, Edward (1990). “From Geopolitics to Geo-Economics: Logic of Conflict, Grammar of Commerce”, The National Interest, No. 20, Summer 1990, pp. 222-241. (20 sider)
- Wigell, M. & S. Scholvin (2018): Power politics by economic means: geoeconomics as an analytical approach and foreign policy practice. Comparative Strategy, Volume 37, Number 1, 1 January 2018. Routledge. pp. 1-13 (14 sider)
- Beata Javorcik, Lucas Kitzmüller, Sushil Mathew, Helena Schweiger, Xuanyi Wang (2123): “The green transition and geopolitical tensions”, VoxEU – CEPR, 21 Nov 2023. (5 sider). Link: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/green-transition-and-geopolitical-tensionsLinks to an external site.
- Susan Strange (1972): International Economics and International Relations: A Case of Mutual Neglect, International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), Vol. 46, No.2 (Apr., 1970), http://www.jstor.org/stable/2613829pp. 304-315 (12 sider)
- Robert Gilpin (1975): Chapter 1, U. S. Power and the Multinational Corporation: The Political Economy of Foreign Direct Investment, New York: Basic Books. Reprinted in Mingst & Snyder (eds.), Essential Readings in World Politics, 5th edition, Norton, pp. 532-531.
- 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 (15 sider)
- Aggarwal, V. K., & Reddie, A. W. (2022). New Economic Statecraft: Industrial Policy in an Era of Strategic Competition, i Kou, C.-W., Huang, C.-C., & Job, B. (eds.), The Strategic Options of Middle Powers in the Asia-Pacific (1st ed.). Routledge. Pp. 105-122 (18 sider). Link: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003156314-8/new-economic-statecraft-industrial-policy-era-strategic-competition-vinod-aggarwal-andrew-reddie
- Robert Gilpin (2001): “Changes in the World Economy”, i Global Political Economy – Understanding International Economic Order, Princeton University Press, 2001, pp. 3-24 (22 sider)
- Sören Scholvin and Mikael Wigell (2019): Geo-economic power politics: An introduction, in Geo-Economics and Power Politics in the 21st Century The Revival of Economic Statecraft (Eds. Mikael Wigell, Sören Scholvin and Mika Aaltola), Routledge, pp. 1-13 (14 sider)
- Mortensen, Jens L. (2020): “World Order: Lines of transformation” in E. Vivares (ed.), Routledge Handbook of International Political Economy. Routledge, 2020, https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781351064545-16/world-order-jens-mortensenLinks to an external site.
- Daniel Deudney and G. John Ikenberry (2018): Liberal World: The Resilient Order, Foreign Affairs, July/August 2018, pp. 16-24
- Chad P. Bown (2019): The 2018 US-China Trade Conflict after 40 Years of Special Protection, Working Papers 19-7, Peterson Institute for International Economics, April 2019. Link: https://www.piie.com/publications/working-papers/2018-us-china-trade-conflict-after-40-years-special-protection
- Susan Strange (1988): Power in the World Economy, I States and Markets – An introduction to International Political Economy, pp. 23-42
- Henry Farrell, Abraham L. Newman (2019); “Weaponized Interdependence: How Global Economic Networks Shape State Coercion”. Uddrag. International Security 2019; 44 (1): 42–58, 74-79. Link: https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00351 (22 sider)
- T.S. Paul (2023): “The Specter of Deglobalization.” Current History, pp. 3-8. Link: https://online.ucpress.edu/currenthistory/article/122/840/3/195020/The-Specter-of-Deglobalization
- Abdelal, R., Blyth, M., & Parsons, C. (2010). Introduction: Constructing the International Economy. In R. ABDELAL, M. BLYTH, & C. PARSONS (Eds.), Constructing the International Economy (pp. 1–20). Cornell University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt7v789.5
- Herranz-Surrallés, A., Damro, C. and Eckert, S. (2024) ‘The Geoeconomic Turn of the Single European Market? Empirical Trends and Conceptual Challenges’. Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol. 62, No. 1.
- Christou, A., and Damro, C. (2024) Frames and Issue Linkage: EU Trade Policy in the Geoeconomic Turn. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 62: 1080–1096. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13598.
- Eckert, S. (2024) ‘Business Power and the Geoeconomic Turn in the Single European Market’. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13604.
- Peter Dauvergne (2020): The Political Economy of the Environment”, i Global Political Economy, Oxford University Press, pp. 384-411
- Weinhardt, C., & De Ville, F. (2024). The Geoeconomic Turn in EU Trade and Investment Policy: Implications for Developing Countries. Politics and Governance, 12, Article 8217. https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.8217
- Matthew Paterson (2021) Climate change and international political economy: between collapse and transformation, Review of International Political Economy, 28:2, 394-405, DOI: 10.1080/09692290.2020.1830829
- Babic, M., & Sharma, S. E. (2023). Mobilising critical international political economy for the age of climate breakdown. New Political Economy, 28(5), 758–779. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563467.2023.2184468
Knowledge of International Relation Theory required. Some knowledge of basic economic theory is beneficial.
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
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Free written 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: Free written 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
- 56
- Preparation
- 184,25
- Exercises
- 12
- Exam Preparation
- 160,25
- English
- 412,50
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- ASTK18483U
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Bachelor
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Studyboard
- Department of Political Science, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Political Science
- Department of Anthropology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Jens Ladefoged Mortensen (3-6d6f70436c6976316e7831676e)
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