CORNELL COLLEGE
Department of Politics

349: International Political Economy

May 2004

Dr. David W. Loebsack, Instructor
Amanda Swygart-Hobaugh , Consulting Librarian

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Class Meets: Generally, M-F 9-11 but there will be some days when we meet morning and afternoon. See the schedule below for the particulars.
Office Hours: Generally 2-3:30 and by appointment
Phone: 895-4300
Fax: 895-4284
Email: dloebsack@cornellcollege.edu

Purpose:

This course is designed to introduce the student to the linkages between international economic transactions and political factors that often constrain economic actors. It provides a broad overview of the transformation of the international capitalist political economy since WWII and various frameworks for analyzing these changes. It is thus both empirical and conceptual. It is therefore concerned with many of the aspects of what has become known as "globalization." Moreover, the student economist will learn just how critical politics can be in the international economic realm while the budding political scientist (or, attorney, as the case may be) will once again be reminded of the omnipresent forces of the market.

Much of our time will be taken up reviewing the post-WWII history of trade and money issues as well as the role of multinational corporations. In addition, we shall spend considerable time on U.S. trade policy, the rise of "globalization," and the various responses to this phenomenon.

Readings:

Robert Gilpin, The Challenge of Global Capitalism
Robert Keohane, After Hegemony
Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization and its Discontents

Requirements:

Two exams - 15% and 35%.
One paper - 30%.
One paper presentation - 10%.
Class participation - 10%.

  1. Two exams, the first worth 15% and the second worth 35% of the course grade.

  2. Research paper (12 typed, double-spaced pages) worth 30% of the course total. The paper will require full documentation via footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography. The oral presentation is worth 10%. The paper is due at 12 p.m. May 26.

    You are required to present the paper in class during the last week of the term. Each student will be allotted 20 minutes, 15 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for questions/discussion.

    May 7 is reserved solely for paper conferences. At that conference, you should be ready to discuss with me not only your topic but also the issues/themes you wish to research. In other words, you need to have developed a statement of purpose. There is no roughdraft required. However, if you wish me to read one, it must be to me no later than Wednesday, May 19 to allow me time to read it and comment on it by Friday, May 21. You also should note that a roughdraft should not be so rough that I would need to edit it extensively. The primary purpose of submitting a roughdraft is to get my feedback as to whether you are covering the topic correctly and organizing your thoughts in a logical fashion.

  3. Class participation worth 10% of the course grade. I expect students to keep up with the reading and come to class prepared to discuss the assignments. Also, you should keep in mind that attendance at your colleagues' paper presentation is mandatory. If you fail to attend one or more of the presentations (without a legitimate excuse), you will earn no higher than a C- for class participation.

Schedule:

Week 1 - May 3-7

Monday 9-10- Introduction: what is international political economy? Theoretical approaches to international political economy.
10-11 - Meet in Library 126 w/Mandy Swygart Hobaugh for instruction.

Tuesday 9-11 - The international capitalist political economy. Gilpin, Preface, Introduction, Chapters 2-3.

Wednesday 9-11 - Trade, money and the multinational corporations. Gilpin, Chapters 3-6.

Thursday 9-11 - The major players: Europe, the United States, and Asia. Gilpin, Chapters 7-9.
1:30-3 - Globalization and "managing" the international capitalist political economy. Gilpin, Chapters 10-11.

Friday - Paper conferences.

Week 2 - May 10-14

Monday 9-11 - Exam 1.

Tuesday 9-11 - A closer look at international regimes. Keohane, chapters 1-3.

Wednesday 9-11 - Regimes (cont.). Keohane, chapters 4-7.

Thursday 9-11 - Regimes (cont.). Keohane, finish chapters 4-7; begin chapters 8-11.

Friday - 9-11 - Regimes (finish). Keohane, chapters 8-11.

Week 3 - May 17-21

Monday - 9-11 - Focus on globalization. Guest lecture re globalization by Robert Froelich. Stiglitz, Introduction and chapters 1-2.
11-12 - Required of all students - lecture - "Boomernomics: The Baby Boom, Globalization and Financial Markets," Hedges.

Tuesday 9-11 - Globalization (cont.). Stiglitz, chapters 3-5.

Wednesday 9-11 - Globalization (cont.). Stiglitz, chapters 6-7.

Thursday 9-11 - Globalization (cont.). Stiglitz, chapters 8-9, Afterword.

Friday 9-12 - Exam 2.

Week 4 - May 24-26

Monday 9-11 and 1-3 - Paper presentations

Tuesday 9-11 and 1-3 - Paper presentations.

Wednesday - Paper due at 12 p.m.