This course introduces students to the nature of, scope, and approaches to International Political Economy. It is based on the premise that the study of International Relations must take into account the relationship between economic and political forces in the international community. Thus, the course focuses on the political economy perspective, and applies this perspective to issues such as the nature of the liberal international order, globalization, and the nature of the international financial system, distributive justice and policy coordination at the international level. It also pays attention to International Politics and to certain contemporary problems facing the international community.

• Tutorial Attendance and Participation in Conference - 20%


• Mid-Semester Examination (14 March) 20%
  The examination will cover the material from Section A of the course


• Final Exam – 60%

This is an intense and demanding course. A lot of technical information will be conveyed in the course of the lectures, and students will have the opportunity to verify information at the tutorials. At each lecture, make a list of questions you wish to ask or concepts you need to have further explained and carry them to the tutorial. They can then be presented for discussion. In cases where the tutor is unable to fully address a matter to a student’s satisfaction, it will be referred to the lecturer. However, you are responsible for ensuring that your understanding of the material is complete.

Tutorials will meet for one hour a week. Half the class will be given over to a discussion of the week’s lecture and readings. The other half will be devoted to the preparation of that group’s contribution to the upcoming conference on Jamaica in the world economy (see below for details). Accordingly, when you register for a tutorial group, you will be signing up not only for a time, but also a topic. Please make a note of both when choosing your tutorial group.

The levels of preparedness of students taking this course vary widely. Accordingly, rather than being given a standardized reading list, students will be directed to do supplementary reading according to their needs. In principle, the required reading will consist of three categories of literature, namely 1) the conference proceedings, 2) occasional selected readings, and 3) the textbook for the second half of the course. Items 1 and 2 will be e-mailed to students and posted on the course website as they are available, and so will be readily accessible. Item 3 is available in the university bookstore. Thus, supplementary reading from the list above will be assigned to individuals as per their consultations with me. In that vein, students are strongly encouraged to consult with me and keep me informed of any weaknesses they have in the course, enabling me to put together an appropriate course of reading for each of you.

In addition, students will be e-mailed lecture outlines prior to each class, followed by a brief summary of the material following the class. Please note that neither of these are notes, nor are they acceptable substitutes for notes. They are merely guides to assist you in the preparation of your own lecture notes. All material will be e-mailed through campus pipeline, so if you wish to receive your class mailings to another address, please inform me.

Required Text: John Rapley, Globalization and Inequality

SUGGESTED READINGS

• Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri, Empire


• David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity


• Paul Hirst, “The Global Economy: Myths and Realities”, International Affairs 73, 3 (1997)


• Ankie Hoogvelt, Globalization and the Postcolonial World


• Wolfgang Reinicke, “Global Public Policy”, Foreign Affairs (Nov. - Dec. 1997)


• Leslie Sklair, Globalization: Capitalism and its alternatives


• Malcolm Waters, Globalization


• Eric Helleiner, States and the Re-emergence of Global Finance


• Paul Hirst and Grahame Thompson, Globalization in Question: The International Economy and the Possibilities of Governance


• Kenichi Ohmae, “The Rise of the Region State”, Foreign Affairs 72, 2 (Spring 1993)


• Saskia Sassen, “Cities and Communities in the Global Economy”, Behavioural Scientist 39 (1996)


• Jan Aart Scholte, “Global Capitalism and the State”, International Affairs 73, 3 (1997)


• Susan Strange, The Retreat of the State: The Diffusion of Power in the World Economy


• Feenstra and Hansen, “Globalization, Outsourcing, and Wage Inequality”, American Economic Review 86, 2 (1996)

In early April (final date to be announced), the course will stage a simulated academic conference on the theme of Jamaica in the world economy. Connected to an ongoing research project in the Department of Government on the Jamaican economy since independence, the conference will seek to identify the challenges and opportunities facing Jamaica in the world economy in the coming decades. Each student will be assigned a task in the preparation of this conference, and 20% of your grade will come from your performance in this component of the course. At the conference, there will be twelve workshops on the twelve themes below. Each tutorial group will be assigned one of the twelve questions below, and will thus be responsible for producing the workshop for that particular question, along with the conference proceedings which will follow.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Will the globalization of capital markets hinder Jamaica’s economic prospects?


2. What will be the likely effect of the depreciation of the US dollar on the international economic system?


3. Have the policies of the World Bank been inimical to Third World development?


4. Is US trade policy harmful to developing countries?


5. Is free trade good or bad for Caribbean countries?


6. Who have been the winners or losers from NAFTA?


7. Is the IMF anti-poor?


8. Does structural adjustment work to the benefit of developing countries?


9. What effect will continued political instability have on oil prices?


10. How might water become a major factor in international security?


11. Is sustainable development a panacea or false promise?


12. Are MNCs friends or foes of developing countries?