PO3IPE: International Political Economy

Module code: PO3IPE

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Jonathan Golub, email: j.s.golub@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is an introduction to International Political Economy (IPE), which focuses on the interaction between states and markets, and between winners and losers, at the domestic and international levels. The module covers the major theoretical approaches to IPE and applies them to study a range of substantive topics, such as international trade and finance, development, the effects of globalisation on the welfare state and the environment, and the use of economic sanctions. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Show knowledge of the major competing approaches to IPE
2. Demonstrate an understanding of academic work on the interaction between political and economic factors in international relations
3. Reason critically and independently about theoretical and empirical aspects of IPE
4. Use appropriate data to support their arguments
5. Convey their ideas effectively in an audio-annotated Powerpoint presentation
6. Advance their wider skills of critical analysis, and their ability to articulate their ideas orally and in writing

Module content

Topics will include: 

• International trade and finance 
• Economic development 
• The effects of globalisation on the welfare state and the environment 
• Economic sanctions 
• World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught in a “flipped classroom” format, through a series of 10 online screencast lectures and 11 face-to-face seminars. Each lecture introduces a separate topic, while seminars are structured around the audio-annotated Powerpoint debate presentations and allow students to deepen their knowledge and to apply what they have learnt. 

There will also be a revision session when we will meet to discuss and develop students’ ideas in preparation for the exam. 

Study hours

At least 17 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will receive formative feedback on their presentations during seminars. 

Reassessment

Additional costs