Spring Semester, 2008
MWF, 10:00-10:50 in Kauke 143
Class Instructor: Dr. Matthew Krain
Office: Kauke 104; x2469
Office Hours: Monday 9:00-9:50, Thursday and Friday
11:00-11:50, and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This
course will introduce you to the study of international political economy
(IPE), a sub-field of international relations. We will discuss how politics
shapes international economic behavior and how the international economy in
turn shapes domestic and international politics. These subjects are
increasingly relevant as the world becomes "smaller" in a variety of
ways. We will examine the complex relationships between politics and economics
in the global system. More important, we will attempt to develop a way of
thinking critically about how politics and economics interact that will help us
explain the behavior of countries, institutions, firms, interest groups and
individuals.
READINGS
We will be using the following books in this class:
Supplementary readings are available on-line, via our
class web page, at: http://www.wooster.edu/polisci/mkrain/ipe.html, or will placed on electronic reserve through the
library (http://eres.library.denison.edu/eres/coursepass.aspx?cid=2745,
password = "ipe").
All readings MUST be completed by the class session
for which they are assigned. They will be necessary background for lectures and
discussion. You will be held responsible for them in class and on exams.
Finally, you are expected to keep up with news around
the world. This will require you to get your news from two or more of
the following sources:
1) a major national or international newspaper such as
The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, The
Financial Times, or The Wall
Street Journal
2) a major and reputable news website. I have put together a web site with a large number of
links to on-line news sources, located at: http://www.wooster.edu/polisci/mkrain/news.html
3) a major news magazine such as The Economist,
Time, Newsweek or US News & World
Report
4) a major public news outlet with comprehensive
news coverage such as NPR's National Public Radio News (89.3 FM on the radio) or PBS's The News Hour with
Jim Lehrer.
GRADING
The grades will be assigned as follows:
20% = Exam #1
30% = Exam #2
30% = Papers (3 papers, 10% Each)
20% = Participation and Professionalism
There will be two exams during the semester. The first
exam will focus specifically on the first part of the semester. The second exam
will focus on primarily on the second section, but will include elements that
are cumulative. Exams will be some combination of multiple choice, short
answer, and essay questions. CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL RESULT IN
AUTOMATIC FAILURE FOR THE COURSE!
You will be responsible for two policy papers over the
course of the semester – one shorter (3-6 page) single-authored paper
[PAPER #1] due on February 11th, 2008, and one longer (7-10 page) group project paper
[PAPER #3] due on April 25th, 2008. NOTE: Each student co-author in the group project
paper will receive the same grade for the group's research paper.[1]
Policy papers will be associated with in-class sessions about a particular
policy issue. Each paper is due at the beginning of the "think-tank" session
with which it is associated.
Each policy brief should state the problem or
situation, summarize the policy options, recommend some action be taken, and
explain the reasons for the recommendation. When writing the policy paper you
may want to think of yourself as an international economic policy advisor (or
consultant) writing a memo to your boss (or client) that outlines the situation
and what action should be taken to address that situation. A good policy brief
is clear and concise, and demonstrates knowledge of the policy problem,
intelligently discusses options available, and makes a persuasive case for
which policy option is best. Further details will be distributed and/or
discussed by the instructor in class.
Students will be the primary instigators of discussion
and debate over these issues during the associated roundtable "think-tank"
session. During the first "think tank" session, the instructor will act as
moderator of a group discussion of policy options. During the second "think
tank" session, each group will have about 5-8 minutes to present a summary of
their recommendations, which will be followed by a group discussion of the
presented plans.
Please note that any and all
citations and bibliographic references should follow the style guidelines laid
out in the American Political Science Review Style Manual (2006), available on E-Reserve.
In order to explore a particular subject connected to
international political economy in more depth, students will also write a brief
review of the academic literature on that subject. This review should be an integrated review of three major
and related works, possibly including relevant articles, book chapters from
different volumes, or books. There should be some evidence of the existence of
a major debate within the literature in your review – that is, at least
one of the pieces reviewed should offer a different explanation of the
phenomenon of interest than the others.
A literature review proposal must be submitted for approval by the
instructor no later than February 29th, 2008. This proposal should provide a full
citation for the books, book chapters or academic articles, a one-paragraph
description of each scholarly work, and a photocopy of the book's table of
contents or the first page of the articles with the abstract (i.e. you must
have the material in hand). Failure to turn in a proposal on time will lead to
an automatic one-letter grade deduction from the final paper.
The literature review paper itself is due on March 31st,
2008. It should be a minimum of 5 pages in length (not counting
bibliography). Be sure to address the following:
* What are the main argument(s) presented?
What theoretical assumptions are they derived from?
* Critically evaluate the scholarly work;
issues that you might address include: Are the arguments well presented and
properly supported? Are you convinced by the author(s) that their arguments are
correct? Why? What are the
strengths of the scholarly work? What are the shortcomings of the scholarly
work?
* Discuss the implications of this body of
literature. Does this literature make a
contribution to our understanding of the phenomenon under examination? What are
the implications of this literature for theory or future research in this area?
* Building out of your critique, in your
opinion what should further literature in this subject area address in order to
build our understanding in this area?
Please note that any and all
citations and bibliographic references should follow the style guidelines laid
out in the American Political Science Review Style Manual (2006), available on E-Reserve.
Participation is encouraged
and required in this class. Due to the short period of time we will have in
which to cover a great deal of material, your input and feedback is essential
to the smooth and efficient running of the class. To that end, be sure to have
read the materials pertaining to that day's discussion BEFORE that class
period! My hope is that the classroom will contain an atmosphere in which ideas
and opinions will be welcomed and addressed. Discussion may have to be curtailed, however, in the
interests of covering the material.
In this class, however, you will be graded on more
than just participation. You are beginning your life as both adults and social
scientists, and as such you are expected to act in a professional manner.
Therefore this component of your grade is a grade for your degree of
professionalism. "Professionalism" includes participation, but also refers to
factors such as attendance, promptness, courtesy to the instructor and fellow
students, overall improvement, and other intangibles, to be evaluated and
assigned at the discretion of the instructor.
NOTES
Note
#1: Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Any
missed assignment or unexcused exam absence is subject to an automatic failing
grade for the course (in other words, you cannot pass the class unless you do
all of the work!). Late written assignments will be graded down one full letter
grade for each day late. A paper handed in five minutes after the deadline is
considered a day late. If you anticipate missing an exam or a paper deadline,
consult with the instructor as soon as possible.
Note
#2: Students are encouraged to study together and assist one another in
learning the material. It is assumed that you have done your own work. In
short, DON'T CHEAT AND DON'T PLAGIARIZE (see for
instance http://www.wooster.edu/library/plagiarism). Students are reminded that they are obliged to
understand, to uphold, and to comply with the Code of Academic Integrity at the
College of Wooster. If you have doubts about whether something violates
academic integrity, check the Code of Academic Integrity, located in the Scot's
Key (http://www.wooster.edu/policies). Students who do not understand the Code after
having read it should make an appointment to see me to discuss it; indeed, I
welcome this discussion and encourage students to see me in advance of any
assignment about which they have doubts or questions. PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY
VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MEANS THE STUDENT'S IMMEDIATE
FAILURE IN THE COURSE, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE SUBSEQUENT ACADEMIC DISCIPLINARY
ACTION.
Note
#3: Students are encouraged to discuss assignments with me during office
hours. However, students seeking to change their grade on an assignment or
essay portion of an exam should be advised that I reserve the right to alter
your grade in either direction (i.e.- if new problems are found during the
re-grade the grade would go down).
Note
#4: It is your responsibility to inform me ahead of time about factors that
are likely to interfere with your performance in the class. Measures for
students with disabilities, non-native writers of English and other special
issues will be taken in compliance with the college's policies.
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS
I. Introduction to
International Political Economy
1/14, 1/16: What is
International Political Economy (IPE)? What Is Globalization?
*
Spero and Hart, ch 11
(385-390)
*
Stiglitz, ch. 1
*
Friedman, Thomas L.
2000. "Introduction," and excerpt from Chapter 1 "Tourist with
an Attitude" The Lexus and the Olive Tree. New York: Farrar, Straus Giroux.
- http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/lexusolivetreeintro.htm
- http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/lexusolivetreech1.htm
1/18: How Did We Get Here? The Evolution of Today's
International Political Economy
*
Spero and Hart, ch 1
*
Lake, David, "British
and American Hegemony Compared: Lessons for the Current Era of Decline", in
Frieden, Jeffry A. and David A. Lake, eds. 2000. International Political
Economy: Perspectives on Global Power and Wealth. Fourth Edition. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp.
127-139. [E-Reserve]
1/21: How do Theorists Think About
IPE? Competing Dominant Perspectives in IPE
*
Fallows, James. 1993.
How the World Works. Atlantic Monthly.
December 1993. http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rlh&an=9404280183
OR [E-Reserve]
1/23: When is Cooperation and/or Conflict Rational?
Game Theory as Conceptual Tool
*
McCain. Roger. 2003.
"Game Theory: An Introductory Sketch" & "The Prisoners'
Dilemma" Excerpts from Game Theory: A Non-Technical Introduction to the
Analysis of Strategy. South-Western
College Publishers.
- http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/eco/game/intro.html
- http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/eco/game/dilemma.html
*
READ & PLAY: Shor, Mike. 2006. "Repeated Prisoner's Dilemma." GameTheory.net. http://www.gametheory.net/Mike/applets/PDilemma
II. International Trade
and the Global Political Economy
1/25: The Rise of Free Trade
*
Spero and Hart, ch 3
(pp. 66-80; 92-107)
*
Krasner, Stephen. 1976.
State Power and the Structure of International Trade. World Politics, 28, 3: 317-347. http://www.jstor.org/view/00438871/di971203/97p01115/0
1/28, 1/30: Domestic
Politics and Free Trade
*
Gourevitch, Peter A.
1977. International Trade, Domestic Coalitions, and Liberty: Comparative
Responses to the Crisis of 1873-1896. Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 8, 2: 281-313. http://www.jstor.org/view/00221953/ap010022/01a00040/0
*
Cox, Ronald, "Explaining
Business Support for Regional Trade Agreements", Frieden & Lake. International
Political Economy. pp. 366-376. [E-Reserve]
*
Rogowski, Ronald,
"Commerce and Coalitions: How Trade Affects Domestic Political Alignments", in
Frieden & Lake, International Political Economy. pp. 318-326. [E-Reserve]
2/1: Some Effects of Free
Trade
*
Stiglitz, ch. 3
*
Elliott, Kimberly Ann
and Richard B. Freeman. 2003. Globalization and Labor Standards in Action, in Can
Labor Standards Improve Under Globalization? 111-126 (Ch. 6) Washington, DC: Institute for International Economics.
http://www.iie.com/publications/chapters_preview/338/6iie3322.pdf
*
Groshen,
Erica L., Bart Hobijn, and Margaret M. McConnell. 2005. US Jobs Gained and Lost
Through Trade: A Net Measure. Current Issues in Economics and Finance. 11, 8: 1-7. http://www.ny.frb.org/research/current_issues/ci11-8.html
2/4, 2/6: Protectionist
Policies
*
Spero and Hart, ch 3
(pp. 80-92)
*
Coughlin, Cletus, Alec
Chrystal, and Geoffrey Wood. 1988. Protectionist Trade Policies: A Survey of
Theory, Evidence and Rationale. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review. 12-29. http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/88/01/Protectionist_Jan_Feb1988.pdf
*
Bossuyt, Marc. 2000. The
Adverse Consequences of Economic Sanctions on the Enjoyment of Human Rights.
United Nations Economic and Social Council, Commission on Human Rights. Working
Paper E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/33. [NOTE: Read pp. 4-15 in Sections I, II, and III; Read pp. 24-26 in Section V] http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/unreports/bossuyt.htm
2/8: CASE: Recent U.S. Foreign Economic Policy
Toward Cuba
*
Office of
Foreign Assets Control. 2004. Cuba: What You Need To Know About the U.S.
Embargo. United States Department of the Treasury. http://treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba.pdf
*
Bossuyt, Marc. 2000. The
Adverse Consequences of Economic Sanctions on the Enjoyment of Human Rights.
United Nations Economic and Social Council, Commission on Human Rights. Working
Paper E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/33. [NOTE: Read pp. 22-24 in Section IV] http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/sanction/unreports/bossuyt.htm
*
Brenner,
Philip, Patrick J. Haney, and Walter Vanderbush. 2002. The Confluence of
Domestic and International Interests: U.S. Policy toward Cuba, 1998-2001. International
Studies Perspectives, 3,
2: 192-208. http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=15283577&issue=v03i0002
2/11: CASE: Sanctions versus
Constructive Engagement in Burma
ˆ NOTE: Paper #1 (Burma Policy Paper) due
February 11th, 2008 (at beginning of class)
*
Howard Tolley, Jr. 2001.
Sanctions or Engagement? SLORC and Myanmar. Teaching Human Rights On-Line. http://oz.uc.edu/thro2/sanct/sanctions.htm
* Office of Foreign Assets Control. 2005. Burma: What You Need To Know About U.S. Sanctions Against Burma (Myanmar). United States Department of the Treasury. http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/burma/burma.pdf
* Imle, John. 1996. Constructive Engagement in Myanmar. Testimony submitted to the U.S Senate Banking Committee on S. 1511. May 22, 1996. http://archives.usaengage.org/archives/legislative/imle.html
* Bray, John. 2001. Burma: Companies, NGOs and The New Diplomacy. Briefing Paper, New Series No. 24 (October 2001), Royal Institute of International Affairs. http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/download/-/id/49/file/3692_bp_24.pdf
*
Steinberg, David I.
2007. Minimizing the Miasma in Myanmar. Foreign Policy In Focus, January 18, 2007. http://fpif.org/fpiftxt/3916
*
Kaung, Kyi May. 2007. Sanctions
and Burma: Shades of Grey. Foreign Policy In Focus, January 18, 2007. http://fpif.org/fpiftxt/3917
2/13: REVIEW for EXAM #1
2/15: EXAM #1
*
Knopf, Jeffrey W. 2006.
Doing a Literature Review. PS: Political Science and Politics 39, 1: 127-132. http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=10490965&issue=v39i0001&article=127_dalr
III. International
Finance and the Global Political Economy
2/20, 2/22: The International Monetary System
*
Spero and Hart, ch 2
(pp. 12-52)
*
Cohen, Benjamin, "The
Triad and the Unholy Trinity: Problems of International Monetary Cooperation",
in Frieden & Lake. International Political Economy. pp. 245-256. [E-Reserve]
2/25: International Monetary (Mis)Management:
A Cycle of Financial Crises
*
Spero and Hart, ch 2
(pp. 52-60); ch 6 (pp. 206-223)
*
Stiglitz, Joseph. 2003.
"The East Asia Crisis" Chapter 4 in Globalization and its Discontents. NY: W. W. Norton. pp. 89-132. [E-Reserve]
*
Stiglitz, Joseph. 2003.
"The IMF's Other Agenda" Chapter 8 in Globalization and its Discontents. NY: W. W. Norton. pp. 195-213. [E-Reserve]
2/27: Regional Monetary Union