POLI 3322.1: Global Political Economy (3 units)
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30AM-9:45AM
Instructor: Dr. Carlos Pessoa
Room Location: Loyola building 282
E-mail: carlos.pessoa@smu.ca
Office: MacNally Building, north wing, MN 520
Office Hours: Mondays 4:00-5:00PM (or by appointment)
DESCRIPTION
As described in the academic calendar, ‘This course explores the
theory and practice underlying the political forces structuring the
global economy. Particular attention will be paid to interactions
between the global economy and international organizations such as
the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF)’ (2014-2015Academic Calendar,
p.244). We start with an introduction to the study of Global Political
Economy and key theoretical perspectives such economic liberalism,
realism, and Marxism and alternative perspectives. These theoretical
perspectives will provide lenses to discuss underlying issues and
themes that shape the global political economy. We, then, turn to the
development of global trade and the development of regional blocs, to
understand present dynamic of present global political economy. The
course will then consider issues traditionally associated with this area
of study: the political economy of international trade, the role of
multinational corporations and international financial crisis. We then
turn towards the impact of global economy on nation-state,
environment, global poverty, inequality and development.
OBJECTIVES
The key objective in this course is to introduce keys concepts and
theoretical approaches in the analysis of the Global Political Economy.
- To discuss the nature of global political economy and its effects on
the domain of environment, development and Nation-States.
- To enable students to proceed into further study in the sub-discipline
of International Relations.
ASSIGNMENTS
Research Paper: 30%(November 10)
Presentation: 30% (to be established in class)
Reading Review I: 10% (October 8)
Reading Review II: 10% (November 24)
Video review: 20% (November 26)
Research Paper
The skill of writing a research paper is important for academic life. The
length of this assignment is a fully-written eight pages paper (front
cover and list of reference are not included in this required length). It
should be typed, double-spaced, using a Times New Roman font, with
a 12cp and one-inch margins. The pages should be numbered. The
paper should use APA citation style for citations and list of reference.
Here is the SMU Writing center’s web-link for APA style:
http://www.smu.ca/webfiles/PoliticalScienceHandbook_Mar07.pdf
The paper should be based on any of the weekly topics of the course
chosen by the student and verified by the instructor. As irrelevant
topics automatically lead to an ‘F’ for the assignment, approval of the
topic is strongly recommended before writing. The assignment requires
a minimum of four academic peer-reviewed sources, and they should
not be drawn from the course lectures or textbook.
The student is responsible to keep an extra copy of his paper, in case
the instructor requests it. Failure to provide an extra copy of the paper
on request will lead to an ‘F’ as a mark for the assignment.
Late Policy: Essays are due in class. Extensions of deadlines are
granted only due to possible student’s illness, and must be followed by
appropriate documents. Late papers will be penalized 5% per day, up
to three normal calendar days.
The separate guideline for the research paper will be handed during
the first class (Paper Grading Rubric) and uploaded in the blackboard
component of the course. Students are responsible to familiarize with
this Rubric in order to understand how their paper will be marked and
given grades.
Presentation
The presentation should broadly show that students have not only
done the basic reading, but also have thought critically about the
topic. Basically, the presentation should demonstrate a deeper
research on the chosen topic. More specifically, the presentation
represents an application of the weekly topic on a particular country.
The presentation should last for 20 minutes.
Along with the presentation, students are required to submit a twothree page outline at the very beginning of the presentation. The
outline should have the name and student number of all students, a
summary of the presentation and a list of the extra sources used. This
outline is to be handed at the beginning of the presentation;
otherwise, you lose 15% of the grade for the assignment. The grade
for the presentation is given collectively.
A Presentation Grading Rubric will be handed during the first class and
uploaded in the blackboard component of the course. Students are
responsible to familiarize with this Rubric in order to understand how
their presentation will be marked and given grades.
Reading Review
You are required to write two reading review as assignment. The
review should consist of a brief summary of key terms discussed from
any chapter of the reading AND one’s own comments (or point of
view) about the topic. It should be about five pages length.
Video Review
You need to write one review for any of the videos presented in class.
The review should consist of a discussion of the video main theme, as
well as, application of terms & concepts discussed in the reading for
that particular week. It should be no less than four pages and no
longer than five pages.
All the assignments will be based on the SMU Grade Scheme
Guidelines: Here is the web-link:
http://www.smu.ca/webfiles/grading_guidelines.pdf
Academic Offences
Students are asked to familiarize with various possibilities of academic
offences. The SMU Academic Calendar (2014-2015 SMU Academic
Calendar, pp.19-20) gives the following definitions for academic
offences:
Plagiarism: ‘The presentation of words, ideas or techniques of another
as one's own. Plagiarism is not restricted to literary works and applies
to all forms of information or ideas that belong to another’
Cheating: ‘The attempt to secure a grade by unethical means.’
Falsification: ‘It is an offence to falsify any academic record or to use a
falsified record.’
Tampering: "It is an offence to tamper with University library materials
or computer system resources in any way which would deprive others
of their use".
Students should revise these definitions in the Academic Calendar in
order to avoid the possibilities of such practices.
On the unlikely event of security emergency, students are asked to
review brochure and video on the following link:
http://www.smu.ca/about/videos-and-brochures.html
IN-CLASS ETIQUETTE RULES
The following are prohibited in the classroom:
- Speaking or text messaging on the phone (you are required to turn
off your cell phone while in class)
- Listening to music
- Reading (unless requested by the professor)
- Eating or drinking hot beverages
- Frequent entering and exiting the classroom
- Chatting with friends and other distracting behavior
Please be sure to follow these rules. You will be asked to leave
otherwise and may receive ‘F’ as final letter grade for the course.
TEXTBOOK
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, 4th edition. (New York:
Oxford Press, 2014).
There is only one textbook required for this course. However, extra
materials are listed for each week. They will be particularly useful in
preparing for presentations and papers. It is the student’s
responsibility to access these readings in the library ahead of time for
their assignments and readings.
COURSE PROGRAM
September 10: Introduction
- Explanation of the course, assignments and expectations. You will be
put into groups for group presentations.
September 15 & 17: The Study of Global Political Economy:
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 1.
Watson, R. (2005). Foundations of International Political Economy
(Basingstoke: Palgrave)
Questions:
 What were the implications of the Global Economy Crisis (2008-)
for world economy?
 How is Power fundamental to the study of Global Political
Economy?
September 22 & 24: Theoretical Frameworks of Global Political
Economy
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 2
Maddison, A. (2001). The World Economy: a Millennial Perspective
(Paris: Development Centre of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).
Palan, R. (ed.) (2000). Global Political Economy: Contemporary Theory
(London: Routledge).
 Discuss how Liberalism, or realism, or Marxism leaves out
significant social cleavages such as gender, race and religion?
 Is possible to discuss present realities of the global economy
without a theoretical framework?
September 29 & October 1: Global Trade and its Evolution
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 5
Further readings:
Ostry, S.(1997). The Post-Cold War Trading System: Who’s on First
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press).
Questions:
 How does the WTO differ from GATT?
 What sort of politics affects the very nature of the WTO?
October 6 & October 8: Regionalism & Globalization:
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 6
Further readings:
World Bank (2000). Trade Blocs (New York: Oxford University Press)
Cameron, M. A. & Tomlin, B. W. (2000). The Making of NAFTA: How
the Deal was Done (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press)
Roett, R. (1999), Mercosur: Regional Integration, World Markets
(Boulder, Colo: Lynne Rienner)
Questions:
 Discuss the impact of regional integration on the participating
economies?
 Does regionalism encourages or discourages trade liberalization
at the global level?
October 13 & 15: The Politics of Global Financial Crisis
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 7 & 8
Further readings:
Porter, T. (2006). Globalization and Finance (Oxford: Polity Press).
Andrewa, D. (2006). International Monetary Power (Ithaca, NY:
Cornell University Press)
Woods, N. (2006). The Globalizers: The IMF, the World Bank and their
Borrowers (Ithaca, NY Cornell University Press)
Lowenstein, R. (2001). When Genius failed: The Rise and Fall of Longterm Capital Management (London: Fourth Estate)
Questions:
 How has financial globalization affected class and gender
relations within countries?

Discuss the causes of financial crisis and how they can be
contagious?
October 20 & 22: Global Economy and its Logics
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 9
Further readings:
Scholte, J.A. (2005). Globalization: A Critical Introduction, 2nd edition
(Basingstoke: Palgrave)
Questions:
 What are the main causes of globalization?
 Is economic globalization merely a political project?
October 27 & 29: Nation-state in Globalized Times
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 10
Further readings:
Garret, G. (2000). ‘Shrinking States? Globalization and National
Autonomy’, in N Woods (ed.), The Political Economy of
Globalization(Basingstoke: Palgrave).
Questions:
 Critically discuss the hyperglobalization thesis?
 What impacts had globalization had on nation-state?
November 3 & 5: Globalization and Environmental Effects
Reading:
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, Chapter 14.
Further readings:
Clapp, J & Dauvergne, P. (2005). Paths to a Green World: The Political
Economy of Global Environment (Cambridge: MIT Press)
Paterson, M (2000). Understanding Global Environmental Politics:
Domination, Accumulation and Resistance (London: Macmillan).
Questions:


Discuss the effects of trade and corporations on global
environmental conditions.
Discuss the effects on inequality and consumption on global
environmental conditions.
November 10: Video
November 12: Fall break (no class)
November 17 & 19 Globalization and global poverty/inequality
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 12.
Further readings:
Edward, P. (2006). ‘Examining inequality: Who really benefits from
Global Growth?’, World Development, 34/10: pp.1667-1695.
Wolf, M. (2004). Why Globalization Works (New haven, CO: Yale
University Press).
Kaplinsky, R. (2005). Globalization, Poverty and Inequality: Between a
Rock and a Hard Place (Cambridge: Polity Press).
Questions:
 Discuss the argument that globalization increases growth and
reduce poverty and inequality
 Discuss the changes in the global distribution of income in the
last forty years?
November 24 & 26: Globalization and Development
Reading:
John Ravenhill, Global Political Economy, chapter 13.
Further readings:
Greig A. et al (2007). Challenging Global Inequality: Development
Theory and Practice in the 21st Century (Basingstoke: Palgrave
Macmillan).
Kiely, R.(2006). The New Political Economy of Development:
Globalization, Imperialism and Hegemony (Basingstoke: Palgrave
Macmillan).
Questions:
 Why has trade liberalization not delivered the expected positive
effects for developing countries?
 Discuss the Millennium goals and the road blocks to achieve
them.
December 1: Conclusion: Global Political Economy Today!