Emerging Powers in World Politics
Overview
Taught by: Dr Ali Burak Güven
The accelerated rise of a select group of large developing nations,
collectively known as the “emerging powers”, represents a fundamental shift
in the make-up of contemporary world politics. Countries such as Brazil,
Russia, India, China and several others in Asia, Latin America and the Middle
East are augmenting their weight in the global economy in leaps and
bounds. Many also pursue more assertive foreign policies than before and
seek a stronger voice in global governance. In the process they inevitably
encounter novel domestic problems and produce unique challenges for global
policy coordination.
This module provides a detailed account of this phenomenon from an
interdisciplinary perspective. It tries to capture the diversity of emerging
country experiences while also highlighting instances of common trajectory
and collective systemic impact. Following a brief overview of current
approaches to late development, the discussion quickly engages the most
pressing issues that crop up in the fields of comparative politics,
international political economy, and international relations with regard to
emerging countries. One major theme of the module is therefore the
question of political continuity and change, with particular emphasis on
issues such as authoritarianism and elite politics, populism and clientelism,
and processes of democratisation. Equally important are the enduring
problems of economic development and integration in these countries.
Among the main topics analysed in relation to this second theme are
questions of market governance and institution-building, the evolving role of
international organisations, problems of income distribution and inequality,
and strategies of regional and global economic integration. In a final step,
the module examines the “rise of (some of) the rest” from the standpoint of
international politics, focusing on enhanced emerging country involvement in
platforms of global governance but also on examples of coordinative failure
in various domains ranging from international security to global trade.
Learning Outcomes
Students completing this module will be able to:
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Demonstrate knowledge of the evolution of the major approaches to
economic and political development;
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Demonstrate understanding of distinct historical problems and patterns
that have characterised the emerging regions of the world (Emerging
Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the European periphery);
Apply insights from various theories to comparatively assess the
political and economic circumstances as well as developmental
prospects of several major emerging countries;
Demonstrate understanding of the workings and problems of
international cooperation in the context of large middle-income
economies; and
Combine the learning outcomes above to critically evaluate the
implications of the rise of new powers for global politics, the global
economy and global governance.
Recommended Reading
For advance preparation, students are encouraged to consult the following
books, some of which will feature in weekly readings:
Alexandroff, Alan S. and Andrew Cooper, eds. 2010. Rising States, Rising
Institutions: Challenges for Global Governance. Baltimore, MD:
Brookings.
Amsden, Alice H.. 2001. The Rise of “The Rest”: Challenges to the West from
Late-Industrializing Economies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dadush, Uri and Shaw, William. 2011. Juggernaut: How Emerging Powers
Are Reshaping Globalization. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.
Mawdsley, Emma. 2012. From Recipients to Donors: Emerging Powers and
the Changing Development Landscape. New York: Zed.
Shambaugh, David. 2013. China Goes Global: The Partial Power. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.