University of Ghana * Department of Political Science* Course Catalogue: COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LISTS FOR POLI 445: POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Thursday, 25 August 2016

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LISTS FOR POLI 445: POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Department of Political Science, University of Ghana Instructor: Bossman E. Asare (Office of HOD) bossasare@gmail.com/ beasare@ug.edu.gh

	COURSE TITLE : POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS
	COURSE CODE : POLI 445
	Purpose and Objectives This course offers an introduction to the political and economic relations among countries and international organizations in the global system. Within the broader family of international relations, international political economy (IPE), or politics of international economic relations, is primarily concerned with the interactions between political actors and economic forces in the global system. Scholars in the field of international political economy have divided it into several parts, including the international trade system, theories that explain economic relations, globalization, multinational corporations, economic development, the international monetary system, etc. The class is intended to help students appreciate how each division (though they all tend to work in tandem in the global economy), shapes global economic relations. The course also renders some investigative frameworks: Why global north countries dominate trade politics? What explain/s the marginal role played by global south countries in the international economy? The role of multinational corporations in the developing world; The contents and discontents of globalization; How regionalism could leapfrog the economies of the global south? The role of non-state actors in the global economy; and among others. By the end of the class, students will understand how political actors shape the global economy; the theories that explain the role of both rich and poor countries in the global economy; why Africa has less influence on the global economy; the international institutions that shape the economic policies of global south countries; why regionalism has not achieved the desired results in Africa; Statist and Societal explanations of trade policies; and the controversies surrounding globalization. Each student must come to class ready to discuss the assigned readings in a more coherent fashion. All the assigned readings are meant to be read and discussed. Note that students who read regularly tend to do substantially better than others who do not read regularly. Reading Materials Thomas Oatley (2013), International Political Economy (fifth Edition): Interests and Institutions in the Global Economy, Pearson Longman. Bossman E. Asare (2016). International Politics: The Beginner’s Guide- Updated and Expanded, Digibooks, Ghana. Charles W. Kegley Jr. and Shannon L. Blanton (2010). World Politics: Trend and Transformation, Wadsworth: Cengage Learning, USA. Robert Gilpin (2000). The Challenge of Global Capitalism: The World Economy in the 21st Century, Princeton Richard Payne (2007). Global Issues: Politics, Economics, and Culture. New York: Pearson Longman. John Ravenhill (Editor) (2005). Global Political Economy. Oxford University Press. Joseph Stiglitz (2003). Globalization and its Discontents. Norton, USA. Martin Wolf (2001). Will the Nation-State Survive Globalization? Foreign Affairs Joshua Golstein and Jon Pevehouse (2006). International Relations, Pearson Longman, USA. Exams Final exams will consist of a combination of fill in the blanks, short essays, and long essay questions. The final is cumulative, with questions ranging from the first day to the last day of class. The Interim Assessment (20 %) will involve fill-in-the-blanks and short essay questions. The IA will focus on certain areas. The date for the IA will be announced in class. Term Reflective Paper Each student should respond to the question below in 1000-1200 words long, 12-point font, and double-spacing: critically examine how globalization can promote the economic development of poor countries in the global system. The paper (10%) is due on the fourth week at class time. Civility Civility in the classroom is expected of all students. Students who disrupt class to the extent that other’s educational opportunities are diminished may be asked to leave the classroom. Cell phones must be turned off at all times in the classroom. Communicating with your Instructor Feel free to stop by and discuss academic matters or concerns with me in the office. All emails sent to me should include POLI 445 in the subject line. Class Attendance and Participation Attendance will be monitored every class session, and students are expected to regularly and relevantly contribute to class discussions by raising questions and making salient comments. For the purpose of class participation, which is compulsory, students are encouraged to bring clippings to class and initiate discussions on them or simply discuss what they have heard or read in the news that relate to the themes covered in the course. Some good sources of such material are the New York Times online, Yahoo news, BBC, Reuters, Associated Press, Google News, The Economist, CNN, DW TV, Google News, Al Jazeera, and so forth. This will be an opportunity for students to make oral contributions, in addition to the regular lectures and discussions. Learning Disability Students Any student with an officially recognized disability should make fitting arrangements with the university, not the instructor. Plagiarism and Cheating Plagiarism, which is representing somebody’s work as your own, as well as cheating in all forms, must be avoided. The consequences of these behaviors are not worth mentioning in this class.
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment/Readings
1	23^rd25^th August	Introduction to course and explanation of key terms and key themes in Politics of International Economic Relations		Lecture: JQB 14	Oatley chapter 1 and Gilpin read introduction
2	30^th August Sept 1	Theories of International Political Economy	One hour-week one lectures	Lecture: JQB 14	Oatley chapter 1
3	6^th 8^th September	Intergovernmental Organizations and the Global Political Economy-The World Trade Organization and the World Trade System, The World Bank and European Regional Integration	Week 2 lecture discussions	Lecture: JQB 14	Asare chapter 5, Oatley Chapter 2, Gilpin chapter 7
4	13^th 15^th September	Continue from week 3	Weeks 3 /4 lectures discussions and questions	Lecture: JQB 14	Asare chapter 5, Oatley Chapter 2, Gilpin chapter 7
5	20^th 22^nd September	Import-Substitution Industrialization	Role of ISI’s in development	Lecture: JQB 14	Oatley Chapter 6
6	27^th 29^th September	A Society-Centered Approach to Trade Politics	Discuss the role of interest groups	Lecture: JQB 14	Oatley Chapter 4
7	4^th 6^th October	A State-Centered Approach to Trade Politics	Statists explanation for economic development	Lecture: JQB 14	Oatley Chapter 5
8	11^th 13^th October	Multinational Corporations in the Global Economy	A discussion of the role of MNCs in the developing	Lecture: JQB 14	Asare Chapter 8, Oatley Chapters 8 & 9, Gilpin chapter 8
9	18^th 20^th October	Globalization and international trade	The discontents and contents of globalization	Lecture: JQB 14	Asare chapter 9, Kegley chapters 9 & 10, Payne chapters 1, 6, 10 &11, Gilpin chapter 10
10	25^th 27^th October	Continue	Continue	Lecture: JQB 14	Continue
11	November 1^st 3^rd	Terrorism and the global economy	Militant activities and the global economy	Lecture: JQB 14	Asare chapter 7 Cindy Combs (2011, 6^th edition) Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century
12	November 8^th 10^th	Regional Integration African Regionalism	The role of integration in Africa’s development	Lecture: JQB 14	Joshua Golstein and Jon Pevehouse chapter 10, Gilpin chapter 9, Asare chapter 5, Kegley chapters 6 and 14
13	November 15^th 17^th	Class discussions on Africa in the Global Political Economy and Revision	Revision	Lecture: JQB 14
14 - 16	Final Exam (70%)

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