IR206 One Unit
International Political Economy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Nikhil Kalyanpur
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Economics, BSc in International Relations, BSc in International Relations and Chinese, BSc in International Relations and History, BSc in Politics and International Relations, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is available with permission to General Course students.
This course has a limited number of places (it is capped).
Course content
The course examines the role of power and politics in international economic relations. Besides international structural factors, it emphasises the role of domestic political interests and their influence over foreign economic policies. Major approaches covered include historical views on international political economy, and contemporary systemic theories of international cooperation, interest groups politics, ideas and institutions. The course provides an overview and explanation of the international monetary and trade systems since 1944. It also discusses current debates on trade, monetary policy, the political roots of financial crises, globalisation and the retreat of the state, and environmental protection.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Winter Term.
10 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.
Formative assessment
Weekly multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on a Financial Times article. All students receive free FT access through LSE library. This formative assessment provides student with opportunities to answer MCQs on FT articles as practice for the summative e-Exam.
Students will submit a formative essay of 500 words in Week 11 of the AT. The formative essay provides students with an opportunity to write an essay and receive feedback to support their preparation for the summative reading response.
Indicative reading
Basic references are:
- M Blyth (ed), Routledge Handbook of International Political Economy (IPE);
- J Ravenhill (ed), Global Political Economy;
- S Strange, States and Markets;
- R Palan, Global Political Economy: Contemporary Theories;
- J Frieden & D Lake, International Political Economy;
- T Oatley, International Political Economy;
- A Walter & G Sen, Analyzing the Global Political Economy.
A detailed reading list will be given at the beginning of the course.
Assessment
Exam (65%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Source analysis (35%, 750 words)
e-Exam of 2 hours (65%) in the Spring Term.
Source Analysis (35%): Reading response in the WT in response to a Financial Times article (750) words.
Key facts
Department: International Relations
Course Study Period: Autumn and Winter Term
Unit value: One unit
FHEQ Level: Level 5
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 130
Average class size 2024/25: 13
Capped 2024/25: Yes(145)Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Specialist skills