ATS3335 - International political economy - 2018

The unit provides an introduction to the main concepts and theories within the field of International Political Economy (IPE). Topics include the operation of the IMF, the World Bank, and the GATT/WTO; the political economy of global investment; regional, bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements; explanations of financial and sovereign debt crises; challenges to the existing financial and monetary system from BRIC economies; and the operation of the international monetary system. This unit is divided into three modules. The first outlines contending approaches to international political economy and explains the scope of the sub-discipline. The second section examines the various major developments in 20th and 21st-century political economy. The final part of the unit enables students to debate the political and social consequences of economic globalisation in the 21st Century.

Upon successful completion of the unit students will be able to:

1. develop sophisticated understandings of the different approaches to International Political Economy (IPE);
2. explain the concepts and the relative power and influence of 'international regimes';
3. employ IPE and regime approaches to understand global trade, investment and monetary arrangements;
4. present an overview of the structure and operation of important global institutions, including the WTO, IMF, the World Bank and the Bank for International Settlements;
5. analyse relevant case studies, including the global financial crisis, the Greek debt crisis and the Asian financial crisis;
6. encourage critical analysis of the political economy of globalisation.

Within semester assessment: 60% + Exam: 40%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Human rights

International relations