First Year Modules on the
BSc in International Politics

IP1002 Theories of Global Politics (2)

Rationale

This module continues the theoretical debate, begun in IP1001 Theories of Global Politics (1), by adding the international political economy, historical sociology and post-positivist approaches. The two modules, IP1001 and IP1002, raise the theoretical questions that underlie understanding and analysis of all aspects of International Politics.

Educational Aims

The lectures and classes will present a broad menu of information and concepts for understanding the nature of global political systems. The debate between Realism and Pluralism, in module IP1001, is supplemented by adding class-based analyses, both through international political economy writers and through historical sociology. This is compared and contrasted with feminist challenges to what is and is not considered to be international politics. Finally, students are introduced to critiques of positivism.

Learning Outcomes: Subject knowledge and understanding

On successful completion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to

• Elaborate the different approaches to the concept of a "state", as a unitary actor in Realism, and as a system of institutionalised authority in sociological approaches;
• Understand the differences between Liberal, Mercantilist and Marxist-based approaches to international political economy;
• Understand the questions about international politics raised by feminist thinkers;
• Compare and contrast different meanings of "globalisation";
• Recognise that the nature of a theory is determined by what it ignores as well as by what it covers;
• Recognise that theorising also relates to the epistemological debate between positivists and anti-positivists.

Indicative Content

The module starts by re-visiting the discussion in IP1001 on theorising, as a process of simplifying our understanding of the world. The concept of the state is elaborated, by comparing its use in international law and diplomacy with its use in international political economy and historical sociology. The concept of class is introduced and elaborated by discussion of transnational class relations. This is compared and contrasted with other social categories, notably ethnicity and gender, and their transnational relations.

International political economy is introduced as the study of the impact of institutions upon markets. Mercantilism is outlined as a variant on Realism and Liberal IPE is compared and contrasted with Pluralism. Marxist-based approaches are presented as having a different analytical focus on classes and global capitalism, along with an empirical focus on dependency and development. Debates about the nature of globalisation are located within the different theoretical approaches to global politics in general and IPE in particular.

Similarly, different feminist approaches are introduced as challenging the premises of Realism, through egalitarian questions about the subordinate roles of women in society, and through Marxist and socialist questions about class and gender. Analysis of the social construction of gender is used to introduce the post-modern critique of positivism.

Module Relationships

Module IP1001 is a pre-requisite for this module.

Indicative Reading list

• J. Baylis and S. Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, (327.101BAY).
• M. Smith et al, Perspectives on World Politics, (327SMI) or second edition by R. Little (327LIT)
• P. R. Viotti and M.V. Kauppi, International Relations Theory, (327VIO)
• W. Carlnaes et al, Handbook of International Relations, (xxx)
• D. Held and A. McGrew (eds) , The Global Transformations Reader, (xxx)
• J. Frieden and D.A. Lake (eds) , International Political Economy: Perspectives on Global Power and Wealth, (337FRI)
• C. N. Murphy and R. Tooze (eds) , The New International Political Economy, (337MUR)
• F. Halliday, Rethinking International Relations, (327.101HAL)
• S. Hobden and J.M. Hobson, Historical Sociology of International Relations, (xxx)
• C. Enloe, Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics, (305.42ENL)
• S. Burchil and A. Linklater, Theories of International Relations, (xxx)
• A. Linklater, Beyond Realism and Marxism. Critical Theory and International Relations, (327.101LIN)

 

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Centre for International Politics, School of Social Science, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB.
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