Students

POL 303 – Global Political Economy

2018 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Dr. Govand Azeez
Contact via 9850 8811
Australian Hearing Hub
Friday or by appoinment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above or (6cp in HIST or MHIS or POL units at 200 level including 3cp in POL)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The unit offers an advanced survey of topics in the study of International Political Economy. It provides a theoretical and historical examination of economic globalisation and consideration of the role of the state and non-state actors in shaping the regional and global integration of political economies.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Understanding the complexities of the world economy
  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Class Participation 15% No 13 November
In-Class Test 35% No Week 7 Friday 14 September
Major Essay 50% No Week 11 October 26

Class Participation

Due: 13 November
Weighting: 15%

All students are expected to do the required reading for each week in preparation for the lectures and seminars. Active and informed participation is expected in each week’s seminar from all students.

All students are required to attend the tutorials. 

External students will participate in on-line discussions. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understanding the complexities of the world economy
  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

In-Class Test

Due: Week 7 Friday 14 September
Weighting: 35%

A one-hour in-class test will be held in week 7 on the material covered in the first 6 weeks of the course.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

Major Essay

Due: Week 11 October 26
Weighting: 50%

Major Essay:

The major essay is due Friday 26th October. The essay length is 2500 words (10% above and below allowed- nothing more) [including footnotes and bibliography]

-Essay questions will be given to students during Week 3 lecture

Submission of Essays

All essays are to be submitted through turn-it-in on the ilearn website. Please remember to have your name, tutorial time, page number on each journal submission.

All work submitted for this course will be graded according to the guidelines issued by the Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations which are attached at the end of this course guide. Also, rubrics will be made available for the journals and essays.

There will be no written examination at the end of the semester. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

Delivery and Resources

This course has 1x2hr Lecture each week on Friday mornings from 08.00-10.00 am. Students also attend 1x1hr tutorial as timetabled. The class locations and times are as follows:

The first lecture is on Friday August 3. The first tutorial will be held on Friday August 3.

Lectures: Friday 08.00-10.00 am in 4 Western Rd-320 Tutorial Rm

Tutorials 1: Friday 10.00-11.00 am in 23 Wallys Wlk-103 Tutorial Rm

Tutorials 2: Friday 11.00-12.00 am in 9 Wallys Wlk-131 Tutorial Rm

Tutorial 3: Friday 12-1.00 pm in 9 Wallys Wlk-131 Tutorial Rm

The Course Reader for this Unit is O'Brien, R. and Williams, M. "Global Political Economy" 5th edition, 2014, London: Palgrave Macmillan. Available from the co-op. 

Unit Schedule

Week 1 August 3 Introduction to the course 
Week 2 August 10 Introducing GPE
Week 3 August 17 Problem Solving Theories of GPE: mercantilism and liberalism
Week 4 August 24 Critical Theories of GPE: Marxism, Dependency and World Systems Theory
Week 5 August 31 Creating the International System Part 1: 1492-1815
Week 6 September 7 Creating the International System Part 2: 1815-1945
Week 7 September 14 Creating the International System Part 3: 1945-onwards
Sept 17- 30 Mid Semester Break
Week 8 October 5 The Political Economy of Globalization
Week 9 October 12

 

Neoliberalism and the Economization of Life

 

Week 10 October 19 The Political Economy of Identity 
Week 11 October 26

Reading Week (no lectures or tutorials)

Friday 26 Oct Essay submitted via turn-it-in

Week 12 November 1 The Alternatives to the Global Capitalist System
Week 13 November 8 Concluding Remarks

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • In-Class Test
  • Major Essay

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • Major Essay

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • In-Class Test
  • Major Essay

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding the complexities of the world economy
  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • In-Class Test
  • Major Essay

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding the complexities of the world economy
  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • In-Class Test
  • Major Essay

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding the complexities of the world economy
  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • In-Class Test
  • Major Essay

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • In-Class Test
  • Major Essay

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding the complexities of the world economy
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop the language and skills necessary to critically evaluate political economy
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • Major Essay

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding the complexities of the world economy
  • Examining the intersection between global capitalist economy and political power
  • Demonstrating an ability to critically reflect on the structured and stratified power relations that determine the distribution of capital and political capabilIty.
  • Develop an understanding of the agency integral to the operation of the world economy

Assessment tasks

  • Class Participation
  • Major Essay