Academic Catalog

ECON 9: INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2024
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Advisory: Demonstrated proficiency in English by placement via multiple measures OR through an equivalent placement process OR completion of ESLL 125 & ESLL 249; not open to students with credit in ECON 9H, POLI 9 or POLI 9H.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable
Cross-Listed: POLI 9

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critically analyze contending theoretical formulations of the International Political Economy.
  • Critically analyze contending theoretical formulations on Development and Underdevelopment.

Description

Analysis of the contending theoretical formulations of International Political Economy (IPE), emphasizing the interconnection between economics and politics in the broad context of a global economy and the formulation of national public policy. Economic and political policy issues of current national and international significance are emphasized.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Identify and analyze the contending theoretical formulations of the International Political Economy and their interconnections.
  2. Critically evaluate the International Political Economy, including trade, finance, and development within the broad context of world politics.
  3. Assess competing analytical and theoretical models used in the study of political economy, particularly in evaluating the historical development and current operation of the world economy.
  4. Identify the central structural and historical features of the global political economy and their changing circumstances in a global market.
  5. Identify and critically analyze some of the leading policy issues in the global political economy, such as global finance, trade, terrorism, non-governmental organizations, and the role of international economic institutions, such as: the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), World Trade Organization (WTO), and trade blocs in social, economic, and national development strategies.
  6. Identify and systematically analyze the political ideologies underlying global political economy issues.

Course Content

  1. Analysis of contending theoretical formulations of political economy
  2. Analysis of the nature of politics and economics, power and wealth
  3. Analysis of globalization, the International Political Economy, national security, and their effects on governments, societies, and citizens
    1. Investigate the role of socialist economics in the capitalist world economy
    2. Analysis of international finance in the IPE
    3. Examine the role of multinational corporations in the IPE
    4. Assess the role of non-governmental organizations in the IPE
  4. Economic theory and history
    1. Capital flows
    2. International trade
  5. International development; population, poverty
  6. Contemporary problems in political economy, such as indigenous populations, environment, poverty, status of women
  7. Socio-economic organizations
    1. Laissez faire, mixed economy, socialism
    2. Marxism, fascism, and corporatism
  8. Extent and role of the public, quasi-public, and private sectors: government, proprietorship, partnership, and corporation
  9. Sustainable capacity-building and government role
    1. Infrastructure
    2. Allocation distribution
    3. Stabilization
    4. Education, research and development
    5. Institutions in monetary and fiscal policies
    6. Environment, workplace safety
    7. Resource conservation
  10. Geopolitics vs. geo-economics
    1. Protectionism, trade issues, industrial policy
    2. Colonialism and revolution
  11. American impacts
    1. World War I and the 1920s
    2. Great Depression, New Deal, Keynesianism, World War II, and globalism
    3. Cold War, affluence, poverty, Fair Deal, New Frontier, Great Society
  12. Efforts to restructure and downsize
    1. Intermestic linkages
    2. Ethnic fragmentation, welfare state, entitlements
  13. Regionalism: NAFTA, European Community (European Union), APEC
    1. IGOs, NGOs, IMF
    2. World Bank, WTO, MNCs
  14. Democracy, efficiency and justice: meeting the needs of all
  15. Methodological approaches: contending theories in the International Political Economy

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

When taught as an online distance learning section, students and faculty need ongoing and continuous internet and email access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Development of research paper topic, thesis, and outline
Analytical research paper on topic of interest utilizing the scientific method of analysis
In-class assessments (quizzes, exams)
Active participation in group oral presentation on assigned topics
Active participation in class discussions, demonstrating understanding and synthesis of issues

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Weekly formal lectures
Class discussions
Oral presentations on assigned class modules
Literature search
Small group research projects reporting back to class

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

O'Brien, Robert, and Marc Williams. Global Political Economy, 6th ed.. 2020.

The Economist, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Weekly reading assignments of required texts
  2. Accessing the New York Times and The Economist (online versions) to keep abreast of worldwide economic and political issues and informing class of findings
  3. Accessing online versions of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and other relevant journals that will assist students in their knowledge of relevant issues
  4. Development of research paper topic, thesis, and outline in conjunction with instructor
  5. Critical analytical research paper utilizing the investigative research methods and analysis

Discipline(s)

Economics or Political Science