Topics of the Lectures/Discussions:

1) Introduction to IPE: Theoretical Perspectives, Main Actors and Short History of Global Economy

The first lecture represents a brief introduction into the IPE discipline. We cover the main theoretical approaches to IPE, the position of IPE within social sciences and main actors that are discussed within the discipline. The lecture will also cover a brief summary of the historical development of the global economy.

2) Actors and Their Interaction: Game Theory and Other Approaches to IPE

This lecture continues the introduction to the IPE, it provides the students also with an overview of the use of game theory and selected other methods in the IPE.

3) Cooperation and Conflicts, New x Old Superpowers

We focus on the literature investigating the reasons behind cooperation and conflicts between actors. Establishment of international institutions (and organizations) as a potential solution of conflicting interests will be investigated. The lecture will also debate the economic effects of sanctions and investigate the hypothesis that mutual trade is a “peace promoter” between conflicting states. In the area of current policy issues, we will focus on the attempts of China to revise international institutional order based on Bretton Wood. We will be also discussing historical examples of similar conflicts (ranging from the popular concept of Thucydides Trap-like interpretation of Peloponnesian Wars to e.g. Europe and the Middle East in the second half of 19^th century) and compare them with the current situation in global economy.

Current policy debates: China and international institutional order. Thucydide's trap.

4) World Trade System, International Trade Cooperation

The lecture will primarily investigate the rationale behind the contemporary trend of trade protectionism (probably most visible proponent is the current US President Donald Trump). We will cover the main arguments in favour of trade liberalization and also protectionism. Special attention will be devoted to the arguments of D. Rodrick. In the policy area, we will discuss the recent increase in the role of economic nationalism and protectionism.

5) Trade Regimes and Regional Cooperation, PTAs and RTAs

The lecture is devoted to the political economy of the trade regime. We will investigate the economic reasons behind the free trade and track the historical development of the international trade regime (from GATT to WTO). The class will compare the international regime (WTO) to the approach based on conclusions of bilateral or regional trade agreements (RTA). We will discuss economic effects of both positions. In policy debates, we will discuss also the TTIP and domestic limits of the RTAs.

6) International Monetary Relations

Guest lecture.

7) The Political Economy of Financial Crises and Global Imbalances

The class will focus on the IPE research about financial crises. The policy part of the lecture will mainly focus on the debates about the financial crisis in US in 2008 and introduce explanations stemming from “economics” and “IPE” literature. The particular focus will be on the impact of so called “ideational change”.

Current policy debates: Financial crisis in the US (2008), global imbalances

8) Political Economy of Development

The lecture will focus on the economic theory of development elaborated by D. Acemoglu. We will debate the role of institutions and also the effectiveness of foreign aid. We will also touch the differences in approaches to foreign aid of China and EU while the foreign aid policies will be related to the work of D. Acemoglu.

9) Corruption in International Economy: Its Regulation and Natural Resource Curse

The lecture debates two main topics: a) corruption in international transactions and its regulation and b) natural resource curse and its relation to corruption and governance quality. We focus on efficiency of anti-corruption laws against bribery abroad and debate actual intentions of contemporary US government to partially repeal one of the “anti-corruption” acts. We cover the impacts of natural resource abundance on governance indicators while also debating the position of oil countries in Middle East.

10) Globalization – Power of States and Multinationals

The lecture covers debates about the impact of globalization on national states. We will analyze the main critical thesis of “hyperglobalization” and relate the debate to the recent elections in US and Brexit referendum.

Current debates: Brexit referendum and US elections.

11) The Political Economy of International Migration

The lecture debates the economic impacts of immigration with a focus on the US situation. We summarize the main academic findings related to the economic impacts of immigration. Scholars also relate the migration to trade policies and offer international coordination as a possible solution of future migration policies. As the policy topic, we will discuss the anti-immigration policy of D. Trump.

A more detailed breakdown of the syllabus (with details concerning the reading and assignments) is provided on the moodle site and in the downloadable text document.