INTL 5800: International Political Economy

Course Description

Globalization can be defined as the intensification of economic, political, social, and cultural relations across international orders. The course will focus on the uneven process of globalization and its effects in terms of cross-national intensity, geographical scope, and national and local depth. The course will explore the factors which have led to globalization in the context of the debate about the real content of the globalization process and the degree of change the relevant factors invoke in the international system. In addition the course will focus on several key international issues that are currently shaping the global political and economic environment.

Course Objectives

Listed below are the long-term objectives you should be striving towards as a participant AND contributor in this course:

Students should become familiar with a variety of definitions of globalization, and be able to compare and contrast them.
Students will be able to place the current processes of globalization in historical perspective, as well as situate the study of globalization within the broader perspectives of international relations, including geo-politics, international organizations, international political economy, and international relations theory.
Students will learn to assess the pros and cons of globalization, and become conversant with actors who favor the process as well as those who oppose it.

Prerequisites

Students should understand the theories and concepts taught in INTL 5000, such as the nature of the international state system, levels of analysis, realism, idealism, complex interdependency, and critical theory. Students must possess the verbal and analytical skills expected at a graduate level. Students should be able to comprehend and evaluate course material and effectively communicate their observations in writing and classroom discussions. Students are expected to have read their assignments prior to each class, including the first week, and should be prepared to discuss the study topics each week: participation is part of the grade.

Course Materials

Please go to MBS Direct to find the appropriate textbooks for this course.

Please be aware when purchasing your textbooks that the International versions of the text may differ from the Domestic (North American) version required for your course.

Click here for more information about textbooks for online courses..

Course Activities

The course will be conducted entirely online. Students are expected to participate in all course activities as assigned by the instructor. Course activities may include extensive reading, papers, presentations, discussions, article/movie reviews, exams, and/or group projects.

Final Exam:
Students typically write essay answers to four or five questions. Essays draw on class readings, discussions, and other materials students have available. It is possible that the instructor will make final exam sample questions available to students prior to the test.

Policy Statements

I encourage students to plan ahead to avoid having to rush or turn assignments in late. If students know they will be out of town, have a family or medical emergency, or have other contingencies that interrupt their schedules, they should contact me as soon (or, for planned events, as far in advance) as possible. We can then agree on when a late assignment will be submitted. If students fail to contact me, late assignments will be docked one point per day after the normal submission date. I will not accept late assignments turned in later than one week after the submission date.

Webster University strives to be a center of academic excellence. As part of our Statement of Ethics, the University seeks to preserve academic honor and integrity by repudiating all forms of academic and intellectual dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and is subject to disciplinary action. The University reserves the right to utilize electronic databases, such as Turnitin.com, to assist faculty and students with their academic work. Students who are discovered cheating or committing plagiarism will be awarded a failing grade for the course, and may be subject to dismissal or further discipline.

This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

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