SYLLABUS:
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
COURSE # 790:327:90 AND 790:327:91
FALL 2015
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Daniel Herman
Email address: dlh2108@columbia.edu
Phone number: 973-655-7576
Office hours: By Appointment
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Course Overview
Course Delivery
This course is fully online. To access the course, please visit sakai.rutgers.edu . For more
information about course access or support, contact the Sakai Help Desk via email at
sakai@rutgers.edu or call 848-445-8721.
Course Description and Learning Objectives
After completing this course, students will understand the micro political economy approach to
political behavior, and the ways in which it clarifies our understanding of global affairs.
In Part I, students will focus on the concepts and theories that form the foundation for
understanding international political economy.
In Part II, students will study the micro- level conditions and mechanisms that influence political
and economic outcomes and how domestic concerns and interest groups may influence actors’
decision- making to set priorities that are not objectively logical.
Finally, Part III, students will use the insights of Parts I and II to make sense of the changes in
the global political economy over the past two hundred years.
This covers the periods from the end of the Napoleonic Wars through industrialization and the
development of globalization; the breakdown in globalization and cooperation during the
interwar years; the revival of globalization during the Bretton Woods period and transition to
the post–Bretton Woods period; and the current era of global financial liberalization, its crises,
and responses to those crises.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Important Dates
The course begins on 9/1/15 and ends on 12/13/15.
The last day to drop the course without a “W” grade is 9/8/15
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Course Materials
Required Text
Andrew Sobel (SAGE Publications, Inc., 2013)
International Political Economy in Context: Individual Choices, Global Effects
http://www.coursesmart.com/IR/5090830/9781608717118
ISBN-13 9781608717118 (paperback)
Required Videos and/or Website Materials
See Course Website
Technology Requirements
Baseline technical skills necessary for online courses
Basic computer and web-browsing skills
Navigating Sakai
Required Equipment
Computer: current Mac (OS X) or PC (Windows 7 or newer) with high-speed internet connection
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Assessment
Assignment Summary
Below are the assignments required for this course and the value of each assignment to the
course grade as a whole. Please refer to the course calendar (on Sakai) and/or the course
schedule (below) for specific due dates.
Assignments
Percentage
Weekly quizzes on the textbook chapters
45%
Weekly quizzes on supplementary video presentations
35%
Weekly participation in course discussion forum:
Original Forum Post + Response to 2 classmates
Total
20%
100%
See course schedule, below, for due dates.
Assignment Overview
Weekly quizzes on the textbook chapters
Each week, you will be required to take a quiz on the textbook chapter for the current week.
To help you study for the weekly quiz, I have prepared the following study aids:
A brief video lecture on weekly textbook chapter summarizing the highlights and the topics that
are likely to be on the quiz
A video presentation of the Powerpoint slides provided by the publisher in which I am narrating
from the relevant passages of the weekly textbook chapter
Practice quizzes on the weekly chapter from the publisher’s website
Each weekly test is timed to allow approximately 30 seconds per question.
You may take the weekly quiz twice. The average score will be recorded in the gradebook.
If you choose to take the quiz a second time, be aware that
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 some new questions will be asked
 all questions and answers will be presented in random order.
If you are satisfied with your score on the first attempt, there is no need to take it a second
time. If you take it a second time, you are strongly urged to re-read the textbook and not try to
outguess the quiz.
Please re-read the section on Academic Integrity above and be aware that severe penalties
await those who try to cheat on these quizzes.
Weekly quizzes on supplementary video presentations
Each week, you will be required to take a quiz on a video presentation from YouTube or PBS.
These videos are intended to show International Political Economy in “real life” both historically
and in the current world.
After you have watched the video assignments, your comprehension will be assessed with the
aid of online quizzes.
Each weekly test is timed to allow approximately 30 seconds per question.
You may only take the weekly quiz once.
Please re-read the section on Academic Integrity above and be aware that severe penalties
await those who try to cheat on these quizzes.
Weekly participation in discussion forum
Each Monday morning, I will publish a Discussion Question on a topic of relevance to IPE.
This question may be accompanied by a video clip.
Examples:
 the debt restructuring talks between Greece and the EU, ECB and IMF;
 outlook for the Chinese economic slowdown (or stock market bubble);
 developments in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (or other international trade negotiations);
 regulatory reforms related to Dodd-Frank
Each student is required reply to my post by Tuesday evening. Your post should include at least
two complete sentences. Please see the Grading Rubric for Discussion Questions for other
details.
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To further facilitate this “virtual class”, I will randomly assign everyone to a group of 4-5
students. By Sunday night, you are required to respond to two (2) posts from members of your
team (hence the need for everyone to make an initial response by Wednesday mornings).
Again, your post should include at least two complete sentences. Please see the Grading Rubric
for Discussion Questions for other details.
Grading Scale
(Source: Rutgers standard undergraduate grade scale)
Grade
Range
A
90 – 100
B+
85 – 89
B
80 – 84
C+
75 – 79
C
70 – 74
D
60 – 69
F
Below 60
Student Participation Expectations
Because this is an online course, your attendance is based on your online activity and
participation. The following is a summary of everyone's expected participation:

Logging in: AT LEAST FIVE TIMES PER WEEK
Be sure you are logging in to the course in Sakai each week, including weeks with
holidays or weeks with minimal online course activity. (During most weeks you will
probably log in many times.) If you have a situation that might cause you to miss an
entire week of class, discuss it with me as soon as possible.

Time Commitment
To be successful in this course, you should plan to dedicate approximately 8-10 hours
per week.

Office hours and live sessions:
All live, scheduled events for the course, including my office hours, are optional.
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If you are required to discuss an assignment with me, please contact me at the
beginning of the week if you need a time outside my scheduled office hours.

Participating in discussion forums: 3 OR MORE TIMES PER WEEK
As participation, each week you can expect to post at least three times as part of our
substantive class discussion on the week's topics.
Discussion and Communication Guidelines
The following are my expectations for how we should communicate as a class. Above all, please
remember to be respectful and thoughtful.

Writing style: While there is no need to participate in class discussions as if you were
writing a research paper, you should remember to write using good grammar, spelling,
and punctuation. Informality (including an occasional emoticon) is fine for non-academic
topics. Please also refrain from using all CAPITAL LETTERS, as this is often interpreted as
shouting.

Tone and civility: Let's maintain a supportive learning community where everyone feels
safe and where people can disagree amicably. Remember that sarcasm doesn't always
come across online. Treat your instructor and fellow students with respect at all times,
and in all communications.

Citing your sources: When we have academic discussions, please cite your sources to
back up what you say. (For the textbook or other course materials, list at least the title
and page numbers. For online sources, include a link.)

Backing up your work: Consider composing your academic posts in a word processor,
where you can save your work, and then copying into the Sakai discussion.
Support and Policies
Late Work
This course is structured around weekly assignments beginning Monday mornings at noon and
ending Sunday nights at 11PM.
The weekly assignments must be submitted within this time frame.
No late work will be accepted unless discussed and approved with the instructor via Skype at a
mutually convenient time.
Late work will only be accepted if accompanied by a note from your physician or hospital.
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Faculty Feedback and Response Time
I am providing the following list to give you an idea of my intended availability throughout the
course. (Remember that you can email sakai@rutgers.edu or call 848-445-8721 if you have a
technical problem.)
Grading and Feedback
Assignment
Grading Timeframe
Weekly Textbook Chapter
Immediately after conclusion of quiz
Weekly Supplementary Video Presentations
Immediately after conclusion of quiz
Weekly discussion forum
Within one week after closing of weekly
forum on Sunday night
E-mail
I will reply to e-mails within one day of receipt. To ensure a timely response, please include
(“790:327” in subject line of your email)
Discussion Board
Mentioned in above chart
Academic Integrity
The consequences of scholastic dishonesty are very serious. Please review the Rutgers’
academic integrity policy .
Academic integrity means, among other things:



Develop and write all of your own assignments.
Show in detail where the materials you use in your papers come from. Create citations
whether you are paraphrasing authors or quoting them directly. Be sure always to show
source and page number within the assignment and include a bibliography in the back.
Do not fabricate information or citations in your work.
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
Do not facilitate academic dishonesty for another student by allowing your own work to
be submitted by others.
If you are in doubt about any issue related to plagiarism or scholastic dishonesty, please discuss
it with your instructor.
Other sources of information to which you can refer include:

Rutgers’ Academic Integrity website

Code of Student Conduct

Eight Cardinal Rules of Academic Integrity
Academic Support Services

Rutgers has a variety of resources for academic support. For more information, check
the Academic Support website .

Rutgers has Learning Centers on each campus where any student can obtain tutoring
and other help. For information, check the Learning Center website .

Rutgers also has a Writing Center where students can obtain help with writing skills and
assignments. Learn more at the Writing Center website .

Many library resources are available online. Assistance is available through phone,
email, and chat. For information, check the Rutgers Libraries website .
Rutgers Health Services

Rutgers Health Services is dedicated to health for the whole student body, mind and
spirit. It accomplishes this through a staff of qualified clinicians and support staff, and
delivers services at a number of locations throughout the New Brunswick-Piscataway
area. For more information, check the Rutgers Health Services website .
Accommodations for Accessibility
Requesting accommodations
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational
programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a
disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are
officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. More
information can be found in the Documentation Guidelines section of the Office for Disability
Services website.
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If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s
disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this
letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses
as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration Form on the Office for
Disability Services website.
Go to the Student section of the Office of Disability Services
Accessibility and Privacy Links
Accessibility Statements
Blackboard
eCollege
Moodle
Sakai
Privacy Policies
Blackboard
eCollege
Moodle
Sakai
website for more information.
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Course Schedule and Deadlines
Template for Weekly Activities
Each week’s activities follows the format shown in this chart:
A.
Weekly chapter from Sobel’s “International Political Economy in Context”
A.1.
Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2.
Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3.
Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4.
Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5.
Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6.
Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
Supplementary video(s)
B.1.
Watch supplementary video(s)
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
Weekly Forum topic
C.1.
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic by Tuesday night of current week
C.2.
Post two (2) responses to the initial response of a team member’s response to
the weekly Forum topic by Sunday night of current week
Each of the following weekly charts may be used as a checklist for the student’s weekly
progress
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Week 1: 9/1-13/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 1: “Introduction: Political Economy, Rationality, and
Social Science”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1. Watch supplementary video
Course Welcome and Introduction to IPE Videos on homepage
B.2. No quiz on supplementary videos
C.1. Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2. Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
Status
9/13/15
9/7/15
9/13/15
Week 2: 9/14-20/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 2: “Structure, Nation-States, Power, and Order in an
International Context”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
Watch supplementary video
Niall Ferguson’s “The Ascent of Money Episode 1: From Bullion
to Bubbles”
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
9/20/15
9/20/15
9/15/15
9/20/15
Status
13
Week 3: 9/21-27/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 3: “Economic Liberalism and Market Exchange in the
Global Arena”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
Watch supplementary video: Niall Ferguson’s “The Ascent of
Money Episode 2: Bonds of War”
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
Status
9/27/15
9/27/15
9/22/15
9/27/15
Week 4: 9/28-10/4/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 4: “The Micro Approach to Political and Economic
Markets in Theory and Practice”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
Watch supplementary video
Niall Ferguson’s “The Ascent of Money Episode 3: Risky
Business”
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
10/4/15
10/4/15
9/29/15
10/4/15
Status
14
Week 5: 10/5-11/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 5: “The Dilemma of Collective Action: Who Organizes,
Who Does Not, and Why”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
Watch supplementary videos
“Global Exchange: Free Trade and Protectionism”
“Promoting Free Trade in the Victorian Era”
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
Status
10/11/15
10/11/15
10/6/15
10/11/15
Week 6: 10/12-18/15
Code
A.
A.1.
A.2.
A.3.
A.4.
A.5.
A.6.
B.1.
B.2.
C.1.
C.2.
Activity
Chapter 6: “Hegemony, Cooperation, and Globalization”
Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
Read weekly textbook chapter
Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
Watch supplementary video
The Commanding Heights Episode 2: “The Agony of Reform”
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
10/18/15
10/18/15
10/13/15
10/18/15
Status
15
Week 7: 10/19-25/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 7: “Interest Groups and International Economic
Foundations of Political Cleavage”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1. Watch supplementary video
Commanding Heights Episode 3: “The New Rules of the Game”
B.2. Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1. Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2. Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
Status
10/25/15
10/25/15
10/20/15
10/25/15
Week 8: 10/26-11/1/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 8: “The Role of Institutions in Political and Economic
Market Failure”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
Watch supplementary video
“Global Capital Market: Risks and Rewards”
“International Capital Mobility and the ‘Impossible Trinity’
Nixon Ends Bretton Woods International Monetary System
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
11/1/15
11/1/15
10/27/15
11/1/15
Status
16
Week 9: 11/2-8/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 9: “Around the World in Eighty Days: A Stage of
Modern Globalization “
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1. Watch supplementary video
“The Ascent of Money Episode 4: Planet Finance”
B.2. Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1. Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2. Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
Status
11/8/15
11/8/15
11/3/15
11/8/15
Week 10: 11/9-15/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 10: “The World between the Wars: A Breakdown in
Globalization”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
Watch supplementary video
“Lori Wallach Free Trade—How Free Is It”
“Lori Wallach, Free Trade—The Price Paid”
“Lori Wallach of Public Citizen and Professor Jane Kelsey”
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
11/15/15
11/15/15
11/10/15
11/15/15
Status
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Week 11: 11/16-22/15
A.
A.1.
A.2.
A.3.
A.4.
A.5.
A.6.
B.1.
B.2.
C.1.
C.2.
Activity
Chapter 11: “The Bretton Woods System: The Rebuilding of
Globalization”
Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
Read weekly textbook chapter
Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
Watch supplementary videos
International Spread of Depression
1944 Bretton Woods International Monetary Conference
Smithsonian International Monetary Negotiations of 1971
Plaza Accord of 1985 Leads to Dollar Depreciation
Britain Abandons Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992
The Mexican Peso Crisis of the Mid-1990s
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
Status
11/22/15
11/22/15
11/16/15
11/22/15
Week 12: 11/23-29/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 12: The World Post–Bretton Woods: Globalization
Advances
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
Watch supplementary videos
PBS Frontline: “Money, Power & Wall Street” (Part 1 and 2)
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic Post your response to the weekly topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
11/29/15
11/29/15
11/24/15
11/29/15
Status
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Week 13: 11/30-12/6/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 13: Détente and the End of the Cold War:
Globalization during Transition
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
Watch supplementary videos
PBS Frontline: “Money, Power & Wall Street” (Part 3 and 4)
B.2.
Take quiz on supplementary video(s)
Weekly Forum topic
C.1.
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
Status
12/6/15
12/6/15
12/1/15
12/6/15
Week 14: 12/7-13/15
Code Activity
A.
Chapter 14: “Into the Future: Political and Economic Market
Failures and Threats to Globalization”
A.1. Listen to lecture on weekly textbook chapter
A.2. Watch Powerpoint presentation on weekly textbook chapter
A.3. Read weekly textbook chapter
A.4. Take practice quiz on weekly chapter (publisher’s website)
A.5. Take “live” quiz on weekly chapter
A.6. Repeat “live” quiz on weekly chapter (optional)
B.1.
No supplementary videos
B.2.
No quiz on supplementary video
C.1.
Weekly Forum topic
Post your response to the weekly Forum topic
C.2.
Post your response to the initial response of a team member’s
response to the weekly Forum topic
Due
12/13/15
12/8/15
12/13/15
Status