The essay will meet [Learning Outcomes 1,2 & 3]

International Political Economy as a field of study. Concept of hegemony and Hegemonic Stability Theory. British hegemony in the nineteenth century, the failure of leadership in the inter-war years and great depression.

Establishing the Bretton Woods and the emergence of US leadership. The Marshall Plan and US political and economic objectives and policies. US hegemony, stability and growth.

Strains in the system and US exploitation of its hegemonic position. Funding the Vietnam war US domestic social programmes. Suspension of convertiblity, collapse of the system and the OPEC oil crisis.

The question of US decline and the "after hegemony" thesis. Multilateral management and position of the US in a globalising economy.

Overhead projector and video player
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available(where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

A programme of 11 lectures will provide background knowledge, structure to the module and identify highly significant themes, concepts and theories. 11 tutorial sessions will be used for discussion and debate on substantive issues drawn from the programme and structured weekly by a module handbook. Video presentations will also be made. 128 hours are allocated to self-directed study aided by the handbook and comprehensive reading lists. This time should be used for researching topics and theoretical material, preparing for tutorial discussions and working on the essay required for assessment. You will be expected to engage in discussion and will receive feedback on your ideas as part of prepration for the assignment.

R. Gilpin, Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order (200l)
R.O'Brien & M.Williams, Global Political Economy:Evolution and Dynamics, 2nd edition (2007)
J.Ravenhill (ed), Global Political Economy, 2nd edition (2008)