Unit name | Governance, Institutions and the Global Political Economy |
---|---|
Unit code | SPOLM1073 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Kennett |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit explores some of the key debates in relation to globalisation, governance and the global political economy. It will consider the implications of the changing global political economy for the integrity and autonomy of the nation state and the policy process. As international activity increases does the nation state lose influence or authority? To what extent is power dissipating both upwards (via supranational organisations) and downwards (via decentralisation) and thus ‘hollowing out’ the nation state? This unit will explore these debates paying particular attention to the variable geometry of power among nation states; the tension between ‘geographical space’ and the space of financial flows and global networks; the relationship between supranational and national institutions in the setting of policy agenda: the role and status of international non-governmental organisations and new social movements within international and global policy making; and discourses, theories and policy frameworks for less-developed countries.
The unit will consider the range of approaches to understanding the new institutional structure and patterns of decision-making emerging in this global age. It will focus on the concept of `governance’, consider the various interpretations of and theoretical approaches to the term, and its usefulness for understanding the policy process.
On completion of this unit a student should:
This unit will be delivered through blended learning involving a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including weekly narrated power presentations, practical activities supported by study-group sessions and self-directed individual and peer-to-peer exercises to develop and deepen knowledge and understanding.
Students will complete two formative assignments for this unit. 1) thematic annotated bibliography (1,500 words) (30%) and 2) Policy Brief (2,500 words) (70%)
Kennett, P. (2008) Governance, globalization and Public Policy Edward Elgar Publishing
Held, D. and McGrew, A (2003) The Global Transformations Reader Cambridge: Polity Press
Weiss, T. (2013) Global Governance, Polity Press
Kjaer, A. M. (2004) Governance Cambridge: Polity Held, D. and McGrew, A. (2002) Governing Globalization, Oxford: Polity Press
Cerny, P. (2010) Financial Globalisation, Crisis and the Reorganisation of Global Capital, Rethinking World Politics, 2010 February pp. 245-270.