Introduction to International Political Economy



Introduction to International Political Economy

Saddleback College -- Economics 11 and Political Science 11 (Spring 2009)

Ticket # 22150D and 22150A

Professor: Nando Guerra, MA

Day and Time: Tuesdays from 7-9:50PM

Class Location: BGS 327

Office: BGS 311

Email: fguerra@saddleback.edu

Office Hours: By appointment

Phone: 949-582-4900 ext. 3179

I. About the Course: What is International Political Economy?

International Political Economy (“IPE”) is the rapidly developing social science field of study that attempts to understand international problems using a synergy of disciplines which include political science and economics. IPE is a field that integrates specific sub-fields of political science and economics. These disciplines include international relations/affairs (or international politics) and international economics (international trade and international finance). IPE is defined as a set of international problems that bear some relationship to one another and cannot usefully be understood or analyzed as just international relations/politics or just international economics. These problems fall into the expanding domain of International Political Economy.

Although IPE originally developed as a sub-field of international relations, it has in recent years taken on a life of its own particularly since the advent of globalization (1990’s) and 9/11. The traditional study of IPE includes analysis of the political economy of international trade, international finance, North-South relations, transnational enterprises and multinational corporations, and hegemony. IPE has been broadened in recent years as many scholars have sought to establish a NEW IPE that is less centered on international politics and the problems of the nation-state to the issues raised by globalization. Currently the research agenda in IPE is being driven by a number of factors and forces that are often collectively labeled globalization. As a result, the main theme of this course will be globalization and its impacts.

IPE directly impacts your life in many ways. How? -- Terrorism, the extent of your personal freedoms, the size of your pocketbook and your overall finances, the quality of your environment, your overall health, war, peace, and the future of the world. Exploring current issues in the international political economy and their sometimes hidden ideological foundations will enable you to understand how powerful political and economic forces affect your life, and how you, in turn, impact the world. In this course we will discuss events as they unfold before our eyes and you will learn how to better understand the world we live in. The goal of the course is to provide you with the basic knowledge to gain literacy in international political economy with which you can then either apply in your daily lives or go on to further pursue this field after you transfer.

II. Required Textbook:

• David N. Balaam & Michael Veseth (B&V), Intro to International Political Economy, 4th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008 (ISBN-10 : 0136155634)

III. Recommended Reading:

• The Economist and Foreign Policy magazines

• The Financial Times and The New York Times, online versions, World and Opinion and Comment Sections

• Newsweek, online version, international and U.S. edition

IV. Additional Recommended Course Resources:

• Thomas L. Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive Tree and the World Is Flat, Anchor Books, 2000 and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2005

• Daniel Yergen and Joseph Stanislaw, The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy, 2002 edition, and PBS website

• National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends 2025 Report

• Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Touchstone, Simon & Schuster, 1998

• John R. Talbott, Obamanomics, Seven Stories, 2008

• GPS: Global Public Square, with Fareed Zakaria, program on CNN at 10am on Sundays

V. Experts in the Field of International Political Economy (More Resources)

Look for articles, essays, editorials, books, and interviews from these experts in World Affairs and International Economics:

• Thomas Friedman, Francis Fukuyama, Fareed Zakaria, Joseph Nye, Joseph Stiglitz, Paul Krugman, Benjamin Barber, Robert Gilpin, Susan Strange, Robert Jervis, Samuel P. Huntington, Michael Mandelbaum, Daniel Yergen, and Joseph Stanislaw

VI. Student Responsibilities:

Attendance – Students are responsible for attending all class meetings. You cannot benefit from class if you are not here. If you miss class you will have to work harder to learn and remember the material, your understanding will be incomplete, and you will likely perform more poorly on the papers, quizzes and exams. If you miss a class you must provide a valid excuse which includes documented medical problems and other emergencies. You may inform me in person or via email. Excessive absences from class will automatically result in a lower final grade regardless of your performance on graded assignments. Do not come to class late and all cell phones must be turned off. It is your exclusive responsibility to submit a drop card to admissions and records. Failure to do so will result in an “F” grade for the course.

Participation – Please come to class prepared to discuss the reading material assigned for that day. It is essential that you have read the material before coming to class so you can easily follow the lecture and engage in a discussion of the issues. Everyone is expected to participate in class but rude or derogatory comments will not be tolerated. Participation will have an affect on your overall grade.

Academic Honesty – Students are expected to comply with the Academic Honor Code as stated in the 2008-2009 Saddleback College Catalog as well as the Student Code of Conduct. Please see me if you would like a copy of these policies. The instructor reserves the right to determine academic repercussions for failing to comply with either of these policies.

VII. Student Resources:

Please visit the following link for information regarding student resources:



VIII. Course Structure, Requirements and Grades:

Class meets roughly three hours once a week. The format will include a discussion of weekly current events, lectures, discussion of course readings, and films. It is absolutely critical that students arrive at each class meeting having completed the assigned reading. The course will have a midterm and final exam. The exams will be based on lectures and readings. In addition, this course will include quizzes and a paper or papers. Grading will be determined as follows:

Quizzes: 20%

Midterm Exam: 25%

Participation/Preparation: 10%

Paper/Papers: 20%

Final Exam: 25%

Extra Credit: TBD

Quizzes

They will focus on the key terms and concepts from each chapter. Quizzes will be multiple choice (MC).

Midterm and Final Exam

Exams will be based on readings and lectures. They will include MC questions and short written responses along with long essay questions.

Attendance/Participation/Preparation

Each student must participate in class and may be called upon at any time to demonstrate that they have completed the reading for that particular week.

Country Paper or IPE Perspective/Ideology Paper or Paper on President Obama and his impact on IPE

Everyone can either pick a country which has played a crucial role in IPE or is emerging as a major player on the world stage or focus on President Obama’s worldview and the impact he will have on IPE (primarily focusing on his economic, financial, trade, environment, and foreign policies). The country paper should focus on the political and economic situation within the country and highlight its past, current, and future role in IPE. The papers should be about 7-10 double spaced pages or you may choose to do two (4-5 page) papers. The papers should be clear and concise. They should be well organized and include an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Remember, the thesis of your work should be clearly stated somewhere near the beginning of the paper. It should also be developed enough so as to answer the question(s) asked in a straightforward manner. In addition, an executive summary might have to be presented by each student encompassing the main points (brief overview) (possibly another extra credit option).

Extra Credit

Each student will have the option to write executive summaries (1-2 pages) of articles by any of the experts mentioned above in Section V related to IPE or selected chapters of recommended books or on one of the financial crises. Students can also choose to focus on a current event and write a short memorandum on the key issues or focus on a particular issue related to IPE such as terrorism, the Middle East, South Asia (Indian Subcontinent), the current or past financial crises, poverty, disease, genocide, the environment, immigration, trade policy or on an IPE perspective.

IX. Important Dates:

First Class Meeting: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Add without Instructor Permission by: Monday, January 12, 2009

Drop with Refund by: Friday, January 23, 2009

Elect CR/NC by: Thursday, February 19, 2009

Drop without “W” Grade by: Thursday, February 19, 2009

Drop with “W” Grade by: Thursday, April 9, 2009

X. Tentative Lecture Topics and Reading Schedule:

The following calendar could possibly be altered in some ways and supplemented with additional readings as they become available.

Week 1

Tuesday, January 13 – Introduction and Overview of Course

• Introduce myself and course, review syllabus, introduce class theme, review text, discuss expectations, class preferences, discuss paper, quizzes, and exams, discuss current events

• Some Geography, Acronyms, and History

• Chapter 1, What is International Political Economy?, Balaam & Veseth (B&V), Introduction to International Political Economy text

Week 2

Tuesday, January 20 – New President – 1st Perspective of IPE – Wealth and Power: Mercantilism and Economic Nationalism

• Discuss weekly current events – New President and what this means for the U.S. and the World – Foreign policy challenges, his worldview, and views on trade and finance

• Class Discussion

• Finish Chapter 1 and start Chapter 2 (B&V)

• Possibly provide additional readings for Week 3 (TBD)

Week 3

Tuesday, January 27 – Mercantilism/Economic Nationalism Continued and the 2nd Perspective of IPE – The Liberal IPE Perspective and Globalization

• Discuss weekly current events

• Finish Chapter 2 and Start Chapter 3 (B&V)

• Provide additional readings for Week 4 (TBD)

• Provide Commanding Heights website

• Choose Paper Topic – Submit by end of class

Week 4

Tuesday, February 3 – The Liberal IPE Perspective and Globalization Continued

• Discuss weekly current events

• Finish Chapter 3 (B&V)

• Discuss additional readings and Commanding Heights website

• Provide additional readings for Week 5 (TBD)

Week 5

Tuesday, February 10 – Globalization Continued and 3rd Perspective of IPE – Marxist Perspective

• First Quiz

• Discuss weekly current events

• Discuss additional readings

• Chapter 4 (B&V)

Week 6

Tuesday, February 17 – Marxism and Leninism Continued and Commanding Heights

• Discuss weekly current events

• Finish Ch. 4 (B&V)

• Briefly discuss Marxism and Leninism

• Watch Commanding Heights

Week 7

Tuesday, February 24 – Continue Commanding Heights

• Discuss weekly current events

• Continue Commanding Heights

• Possible provide additional readings for Week 8 (TBD)

Week 8

Tuesday, March 3 – 1st Structure of IPE – International Production and Trade

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 6 (B&V)

• Midterm Review and class discussion

Week 9

Tuesday, March 10 – Midterm

• Midterm

• Discuss weekly current events

• Provide additional readings for Week 11 (Ch. 3 from Obamanomics – The Current Financial Crisis)

Week 10

Tuesday, March 17 – Spring Break Week

• Enjoy and don’t forget to read about IPE (just kidding)

Week 11

Tuesday, March 24 – 2nd Structure of IPE – The IPE of International Monetary and Finance Structure (including Debt)

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 7 (B&V)

• Chapter 8 (B&V)

• Possibly watch The Crash (Frontline) (TBD)

• Possibly provide additional readings for Week 12

Week 12

Tuesday, March 31 – 3rd and 4th Structures of IPE – Global Security and Knowledge and Technology

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapters 9 & 10 (B&V)

• Class Discussion and possible provide additional readings for Week 13

Week 13

Tuesday, April 7 – States and Markets in Transition

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 13 (B&V)

• Focus on Russia, China, and India and Class Discussion

• Provide additional readings for Week 14 (Ch. 5 from Might of Nations)

• Paper or Papers Due

Week 14

Tuesday, April 14 – The Middle East: The Pursuit of Development, Democracy and Peace

• Second Quiz

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 14 (B&V)

• Class Discussion – The importance of economic development and peace in the Middle East (Israeli/Palestinian Conflict, Iraq and Afghanistan) (What has happened since January, what has Obama administration done in its first 3 months, how does it differ from prior administration)

Week 15

Tuesday, April 21 – IPE North and South – The Two Faces of Development and Transnational Corporations

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 15 (B&V)

• Chapter 17 (B&V) and maybe discuss Poverty (Sachs book)

• Provide additional readings for Week 16 – Rogue/Black Economy article from Newsweek

Week 16

Tuesday, April 28 – The Illicit Global Economy and the IPE of Food and Hunger

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 18 (B&V)

• Chapter 19 (B&V)

Week 17

Tuesday, May 5 – The Environment: The Green Side of IPE

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 20 (B&V)

• President Obama – His First 100 Days – Analysis & Impact on IPE – Class Discussion

Week 18

Tuesday, May 12 – Conclusion and Final Review

• Discuss weekly current events

• Chapter 21 (B&V)

• Final Review & Discussion

• If necessary, schedule an additional final review session

Week 19

Tuesday, May 19 – 7:30PM – Final

• Final

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