• Module coordinator: Dr Gerrit De Vylder
• Language: English
• ECTS credits: 6

Course objectives

The content of this module consists of the following approaches to International Political Economy:

• Definitions of Globalization, Growth and Development.
• A historical approach of globalization. Asiacentric versus Eurocentric views. Relevance for ecological issues and combating global terrorism.
• The evolution of foreign trade and FDI policy.
• The experience of the “Pax Americana”: the growth of the international economy.
• The historical record of Developmentalism (“Desarollismo”).
• The institutional and aid Framework.
• The perspectives of Dependencia, Neo-Marxist and Utopian Schools.
• Another experience of economic liberalism: The “Age of Neo-Liberalism”.
• Recent experience: from “Free Trade” to “Fair Trade”?
• New uses of historical and institutional approaches.

The students have to understand the concept of globalization from a multidisciplinary point of view. Students should learn:

• to access socio-economic effects of contemporary globalization
• to identify the roots of contemporary globalization
• to identify and explain periods of globalization in world history and their effects
• to assess the role of Western Europe (vis-à-vis Asia) in the history of globalization and in contemporary globalization

Entry requirements

No specific knowledge is required with respect to content.

Teaching method

The module is offered in the form of concentrated lectures and workshops with the aid of power point presentations, audio-visual media and possibly guest lectures. Students will have to solve research questions, proposed to students after every session, using compulsory reading. This should result in an individual paper to be submitted.

Assessment

Students have to submit a paper based on assignments given during the classes and using a compulsory reading. There are 20 marks as maximum points and a minimum of 10 points to pass. In the event of non-passing the student will be asked to re-submit a completely new paper on the basis of the remarks given to him.

Course material

A syllabus with a synopsis of the course will made available to the students.

Students should also have access to the compulsory reading which will be communicated to them during the first class.

PPP’s, lists of articles and sources, and information regarding audio-visual media or guest lectures will be made available on Toledo.