International Political Economy

This course is for students from all over the world who are interested in the problems, challenges and opportunities presented by global capitalism, and for those wanting to gain an advanced knowledge of the theories and practice of international political economy from a range of different disciplinary and empirical perspectives. The programme is designed for students who are either familiar with the study of political and economic issues at undergraduate level or who are enthusiastic to focus on this area of study at the postgraduate level.

You will follow a flexible programme with a wide choice of modules. You take two core modules in Globalisation and Governance and International Political Economy that provides you with a foundation for thinking about the subject. You then design the rest of the programme around your own interests by selecting four modules from a wide range of options. The flexibility of this programme is ideal for those with a broad range of interests in political economy or for those who want to construct a curriculum around a particular area of interest.

As a postgraduate student in POLSIS you will also have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events. You will be welcomed as a member of the International Political Economy research group. This group includes members of academic staff and postgraduate research students who meet regularly to discuss their own research, recent publications and to organise research events including inviting visiting speakers.

Key issues and questions examined include:

• The theoretical foundations of International Political Economy (IPE)
• The history of global capitalism
• Changes to the global political and economic order
• A range of issues central to the study of contemporary IPE, including international economic organisations and regimes
• Development
• Poverty and inequality
• Gender
• Environmental sustainability

Who is the programme for

The degree will be of interest and benefit to those who are interested in careers in law, journalism, international agencies and NGOs, international development, and diplomacy, as well as those interested in undertaking doctoral work in international relations or international political economy. In all cases, students are encouraged to work closely with staff in a supportive and intellectually-committed environment.