This course is compulsory on the MSc in International Political Economy, MSc in International Political Economy (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in International Political Economy (Research). This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes.

This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access). Students who have this course as a compulsory course are guaranteed a place

This is the core course for the International Political Economy MSc degrees. The course provides the foundation for examining international political economy: how power and politics shape developments in the global economy and how the global economy shapes politics. Beyond examining foundational dynamics in international trade and finance, global production, and uneven development, it equips students with the analytical tools for interrogating some of the most pressing challenges in the contemporary world economy today. After the course, students will be prepared to undertake their own projects on topics ranging from economic statecraft and the rise of geoeconomics to globalization backlash, the international political economy of the environment and technological change.

This course design ensures that it will be accessible to students who have limited (or no) prior study in the field of International Political Economy. Those who do have such training will have the opportunity to broaden and advance their skills. Thus, previous training in International Political Economy is helpful, but it is not required. The same is true with the cognate fields of international relations (more generally), international economics, comparative politics, sociology, and history. Background in these fields is helpful, but it is not a requirement. The same is true of practical, work experience. It is quite valuable but not required.

15 hours of seminars and 15 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.

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

Formative Research Proposal: The first assignment will be a 2,500- word formative research proposal due in December. You will receive written feedback and a mark from your seminar instructor. This feedback is intended to help you improve your work and develop your ideas for the summative assignment. It will not count toward your final grade.
 

Formative Discussion Opening: Each student will present reflections and lead a section of discussion during one of the seminars in the Autumn Term. It will not count toward your final grade.

It is advisable to begin reading before the lectures start, particularly for students with no prior training in International Political Economy. The following texts are a good starting point. A more complete source list is provided in the course outline.

• S Strange, States and Markets; 
• J Ravenhill, Global Political Economy
• T Oatley, International Political Economy
• B A Leeds, L Mosley, B P Rosendorff, A Zarakol, The Future of Global Governance and World Order (International Organization Special Issue).

Research design (100%, 2500 words).