Professional Documents
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course description
No truly free market has ever existed or ever can exist. Production, in-
vestment, and exchange in the world economy is governed by politics, the
process of determining how a society’s resources are distributed. This
process of rule-setting occurs at the subnational, national, and interna-
tional levels and political power exists within and across each level. As
these rules benefit some groups and harm others, bargaining occurs both
within and between governments. Private sector agents – such as firms,
workers, farmers, and advocacy organizations – both influence this pro-
cess and respond to it. International political economy (IPE) is the subfield
of political science that studies this system.
Our broad objective is to apply central analytical tools that IPE schol-
ars have developed to better understand how the interaction between pol-
itics and markets drives outcomes in the global economic system. We will
focus our study on three interlocking systems: the global trading subsys-
tem, the global financial subsystem, and the global development subsys-
tem. We will consider how the global political economy has changed over
time, and consider what future changes may be possible. In so doing, we
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will emphasize three forces that shape the politics of the global economy
– hierarchies, institutions, and interconnectedness – and consider how in-
terests, ideas, and history influence each of them.
The basic structure of the course is as follows. First, we will explore
the politics of the global trading system, including comparative and histor-
ical developments related to trade openness, labor rights, environmental
standards, and the influence of the World Trade Organization. We then
examine the ways in which the international monetary and financial sub-
system has developed to facilitate trade and investment, and which peri-
odically triggers economic instability and crisis. We will discuss the role
of central banks in the global financial system, the changing role and ori-
entation of the International Monetary Fund, and efforts to regulate the
global financial system. Finally, we turn to the politics of economic de-
velopment, including such topics as foreign aid, immigration, inequality,
structural adjustment, and the role of the World Bank.
requirements
Students are expected to attend all lectures having read the assigned
material in advance. This class requires approximately 80-100 pages of
reading per week, and it is essential that you keep up. I will not take at-
tendance but may periodically quiz the class on material from the day’s
readings. Quiz grades will be combined with the exam grades for that
section of the course. There will be three examinations that will draw
from the readings and lectures. As of now these will primarily be multiple
choice but there may be an additional essay component. This may change
as the course progresses.
Additionally, there will be timed weekly quizzes that ask you to respond
to that week’s readings and lectures. These will be a mix of multiple choice
and short answer, and can be taken with open notes. The quizzes will be
taken on the course website. Each student’s lowest quiz score will be
dropped. These quizzes will be available on the course website. These
quizzes are designed to reward students who read the material diligently
and also to help you study for the exams.
The overall course grade breaks down as follows:
· Midterm 1: 25%.
· Midterm 2: 25%.
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· Quizzes 20%.
grading policy
I will not accept late papers or give make-up examinations except in the
case of a documented medical emergency. Grade appeals must be made
in writing, with an explanation of why additional points are deserved, no
sooner than one week after a graded assignment is returned – to allow
for appropriate reflection – and no later than two weeks after a graded
assignment is returned.
current events
We will spend the beginning of each class session discussing current events
related to the course. It’s a very interesting time to be studying the pol-
itics of the global economy, so there’s plenty to talk about. In order for
this to be worthwhile, you need to know what’s going on. So pick a rep-
utable news source – I don’t care which one – and follow along. If you’d
like recommendations let me know.
academic honesty
“The Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Con-
duct defines academic misconduct [as]:
More here:
http://teaching.iub.edu/policies_misconduct.php?nav=policies.
And here:
http://www.iu.edu/~code/index.shtml.
Please note that if you are unsure whether some conduct is a violation
of the Code, it is fine to ask. There is no penalty involved with seeking a
clarification on policies, or advice on how to stay within them, and I am
happy to help. The goal of these policies is to help you, not hurt you. That
said, I take violation of these rules very seriously and will take appropriate
action if I find that you are not living up to them.
disability
If any student will require assistance or academic accommodations for a
disability, please contact me after class, during my office hours, or by indi-
vidual appointment. You must have established your eligibility for disabil-
ity support services through the Office of Disability Services for Students
in Wells Library W302, 812-855-7578.
student privacy
It is expected that the privacy of the class will be respected. Personal in-
formation disclosed in course should not be repeated or discussed outside
of the course, especially with students not enrolled in the course.
technology policy
The use of laptops and tablets is permitted for class-related activities (i.e.
note-taking) only. The use of cellphones is not permitted at all. Note: it’s
pretty obvious (to me) when you’re text messaging, instant messaging, or
otherwise using technology for purposes unrelated to the course. This is
disrupting to your classmates, and to me. I reserve the right to deduct
points from your final grade if I observe you failing to observe by these
rules.
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extra help
Do not hesitate to come to my office during office hours or by appointment
to discuss course materials, examination results, paper projects, or any
aspect of the course. I will post to the course website several articles
that provide good advice for writing research papers in political science.
You also may want to consider the tutoring services offered by Indiana
University, in particular the reading and writing tutoring (which is free).
Information is available at:
http://studentaffairs.iub.edu/academic-resources-and-support/.
· Jeffry A. Frieden. Global Capitalism: Its Fall and Rise in the Twenti-
eth Century. W.W. Norton and Company, New York, NY and London,
2006.
iii: all the king’s horses and all the king’s men? (aug.
29)
Frieden, ch.: 9.
Benn Steil. Red white. Foreign Affairs, 92(2), 2013.
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Surupa Gupta and Sumit Ganguly. Modi bets the farm. Foreign Affairs, August
12, 2014.
xxii: (nov. 2)
Exam Two.