Department
of Political Science, University of Ghana
Instructor: Dr. C. Amo-Agyemang (Office Location: On Top
of the Department of Political Science Library) camoagyemang@yahoo.com/ camo-agyemang@ug.edu.gh
0558202042
Lecture Period and Venue: Mondays.
2:30PM-4:20PM: Old Library, Accra City-Campus
COURSE TITLE : POLITICS OF
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS
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COURSE CODE : POLI 445
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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 2500-3000 words long,
12-point font, and double-spacing: Examine the different roles of states,
international organisations and non-state actors in the politics of
international economic relations. 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 talk about their experiences at their
places of Attachments and Internships and what they have heard/seen relating
to human resource management. This will be an opportunity for students to
make oral contributions, in addition to the regular lectures and discussions.
Importantly, be aware that students who attend class regularly tend to
perform substantially better than students who skip regularly.
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.
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Week
No.
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Date
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Lecture
Course
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Tutorials
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Venue
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Assessment/Readings
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1
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Introduction
to course and explanation of key terms and key themes in Politics of
International Economic Relations
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Oatley
chapter 1 and Gilpin read introduction
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2
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Theories
of International Political Economy
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One
hour-week one lectures
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Oatley
chapter 1
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3
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Intergovernmental
Organizations and the Global Political Economy-The World Trade Organization
and the World Trade System, The World Bank and European Regional Integration
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Week
2 lecture discussions
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Asare chapter 5, Oatley Chapter 2, Gilpin chapter
7
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4
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Continue
from week 3
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Weeks
3 /4 lectures discussions and questions
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Asare chapter 5, Oatley Chapter 2, Gilpin chapter
7
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5
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Import-Substitution
Industrialization
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Role
of ISI’s in development
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Oatley
Chapter 6
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6
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A
Society-Centered Approach to Trade Politics
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Discuss
the role of interest groups
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Oatley
Chapter 4
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7
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A
State-Centered Approach to Trade Politics
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Statists
explanation for economic development
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Oatley
Chapter 5
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8
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Multinational
Corporations in the Global Economy
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A
discussion of the role of MNCs in the developing
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Asare Chapter 8, Oatley Chapters 8 & 9,
Gilpin chapter 8
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9
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Political
Economy of Globalization and international trade
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The
discontents and contents of globalization
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Asare
chapter 9, Kegley chapters 9 & 10, Payne chapters 1, 6, 10 &11,
Gilpin chapter 10
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10
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Foreign
Aid
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Foreign:
A Blessing or Curse?
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Continue
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11
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Terrorism
and the global economy
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Militant
activities and the global economy
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Asare
chapter 7 Cindy
Combs (2011, 6th edition) Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century
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12
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Regional
Integration African Regionalism
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The
role of integration in Africa’s development
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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Joshua
Golstein and Jon Pevehouse chapter 10, Gilpin chapter 9, Asare chapter 5,
Kegley chapters 6 and 14
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13
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Class
discussions on Africa in the Global Political Economy and Revision
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Revision
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Lecture: OLD LIBRARY
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14
- 16
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Final
Exam (70%)
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