Kate Alexander Shaw

This course is available on the MPhil/PhD in European Studies, MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World, MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World (LSE and Fudan) and MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process. For information on controlled access courses, including eligibility, application processes, deadlines, and departmental contact details, please refer to the Controlled Access Courses webpage.

To apply for a place, ALL students should submit a statement via LSE for You outlining your specific reasons for applying, how it will benefit your academic/career goals, and how you meet any necessary pre-requisites (maximum 200 words).

The first round of offers will be made from 12-noon on the Friday before Autumn Term week 1. The final deadline for applications is 12-noon on the Friday of Autumn Term week 2.

For queries contact: ei@lse.ac.uk

The aim of the course is to engage students with relevant concepts in political economy and their main applications in European studies. The course will anchor the degree in historical and current debates about the nature of political economy, the role of institutions and the pros and cons of different methodological approaches taken by political economists. The aim of the lectures is to outline key political economy concepts and their theoretical background while the seminars explore the uses and limits of the respective concepts through the systematic analysis of relevant research papers.

This course is particularly recommended for students who wish to pursue a research path in political economy, but also for those who have no background in political science and therefore not familiar with conceptual debate. EU455 is also one of the three core course options for the MSc Political Economy of Europe, two of which must be chosen.

Among the topics covered are: concepts and theories in political economy; the role of ideas, interests and institutions; the tension between democracy and capitalism; rational choice theory and historical institutionalism; delegation to independent agents; accountability and legitimacy in policy-making; representation and partisanship; globalization; industrial policy crises and crisis-management.

15 hours of seminars and 10 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
1.5 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.

A review session will be held at the start of the Spring Term to prepare for the e-exam.

Essay (1200 words).

One formative essay of 1,200 words. Essay questions will be set on topics drawn from seminars and course readings.

• Caporaso, J and  Levine, D (1992) Theories of Political Economy, Cambridge;
• Berman, S (2009) ‘The Primacy of Economics versus the Primacy of Politics: Understanding the Ideological Dynamics of the Twentieth Century.’ Perspectives on Politics 7 (3): 561–78

Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period.

The summative assessment will take the form of an e-exam in the Spring Term. E-exams are assessments run under invigilated exam conditions on campus. Students will complete the assessment using software downloaded to their personal laptops.