POLS 4204: INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL
ECONOMY
DR. CRAIG B GREATHOUSE
Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice
West Main Hall 318
706-867-3504
Office Hours: Fall 2009
MW 10:00AM – 10:55AM
MW 1:30PM-3:00PM
T/TH 3:00PM-3:45PM
Or By Appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this course is to introduce the ideas of international political economy. It will examine the primary schools of thought about the impact of politics on international economics and examine the important concepts within the field. We will examine the evolution of different state’s policy options as well as the role of non-state actors in regards to international economic issues.
COURSE GOALS
Understand the foundations of international political economy
Understand the different schools of thought about international political economy
Describe how politics affects the operation of the international economic system and the different actors which influence it
Sharpen writing and analytical skills through testing and the completion of an analytical paper
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
This course will be conducted using a combination of lecture and Socratic Method supplemented by outside reading by the students. Students will be expected to effectively participate in discussing the readings that are assigned. Critical thinking and analysis skills will be refined through papers due throughout the semester.
CODE OF CONDUCT
For this course the code of conduct that is articulated in the student handbook and reiterated on pg 26 of the undergraduate bulletin serve as the rules for this class.
Violations will be dealt with by the instructor and may be elevated to the Departmental Chair and or Dean of Students for additional action. All options remain open to the instructor up too and including an administrative withdrawal from this class are possible.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
For this class the University attendance policy will be enforced. “If a student’s total number of absences exceeds 14% of the scheduled classes it shall become the prerogative of the instructor to drop the student from the class roll with a W or a WF.” (2008-2010 Undergraduate Bulletin pg. 90) For this course you are allowed 4 absences, on the 5th absence you will be dropped from the course with either a W or WF. Students who miss a class for a university sponsored activity will not be charged with an absence IF AND ONLY IF they provide the instructor with documentation for EACH day missed. Giving a schedule at the beginning of the semester will NOT satisfy the criteria. Being sick for a day will not be an excused absence even with a note from a Dr, only if there are long term issues with proper documentation will considerations be made. Attendance may be taken at any time during the class period.
TESTING AND GRADING
NO LATE TERM PAPERS OR OTHER MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!!! PAPERS ARE DUE IN CLASS ON THE DAY OF THE ASSIGNMENT.
I DO NOT ACCEPT PAPERS OR OTHER MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS SENT VIA EMAIL OR FAX.
PAPERS NOT UPLOADED TO TURNITIN.COM ON TIME WILL HAVE DEDUCTION OF 50% OFF THE FINAL GRADE. TECHNICAL GLITCHES ARE NOT THE FAULT OF THE INSTRUCTOR AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED A VALID REASON WHY THE ASSIGNMENT WAS NOT UPLOADED.
Grading in the course will be based on the university’s grade distribution.
A’s = 90-100 - exceptional work
B’s = 80-89 – good work
C’s = 70-79 – average work
D’s = 60-69 – below average
F’s = 59 and below – failing
Your final grade in the course is determined by an average of all work done during the semester. At times an assignment or grading element may have a greater or lesser weight than other work done during the semester. If this is the case you will be informed and the grade will be calculated with that in mind. Quizzes may not be specifically scheduled in a syllabus but I retain the right to quiz students at anytime I see fit.
I consider cheating on tests or papers to be a major violation of the academic integrity policy. (pg 101 bulletin) Therefore, if you are caught cheating you will be given an F for the semester and your case referred to the Academic Integrity Council for further action.
The grades for this class will be determined by the following criteria this semester.
Participation
There will be up to 50 points given for participation in class. Participation is not showing up for class it is being an active part of the class discussions. Students who are not active on topic participants throughout the semester should not expect a decent grade in participation.
Tests
There will be two take home exams, each worth 100 points. Each exam will be essay in nature examining major themes and ideas that are dealt with in class. You will be given the take home test one class period before the test is due. This will consist of 2 essay questions which you will be expected to answer in significant detail. On the day the test is dues you are to bring in the typed essay which will be turned in, and which you will also upload to Turnitin.com. For the take home section you may ONLY use the book and class notes.
Papers and Presentations
There will be several writing assignment given during the course.
Special policies: All
take home exams and papers must be uploaded to Turnitin.com if uploaded late or
not uploaded the element receives 50% deduction from final grade.
Article Review
There will be two critical reviews of peer reviewed international political economy articles due during the first half of the semester. Each will be worth 25 points for a total of 50 possible points. They will be due by OCTOBER 8, 2009, the day before Fall break. When they are turned in you must include a copy of the article with your paper. The critical reviews are NOT to be an overview of the theory given but a critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the article. A paper which is simply an overview will receive no more then a 14/25. A separate handout with the technical requirements will be given out in class.
DATA COLLECTION
Each student will be responsible for gathering economic data for 2 countries over the last 10 years. You will acquire data on one fully developed country and one which is in transition or is underdeveloped. These two countries and your data will serve as the basis of your term paper in this class. These countries will be assigned within class. The data that you will gather on each country for the period 1997-2007 will include all of the elements from the followi6ng list.
GDP (in dollars)
GDP / capita
Inflation rate / annual
Unemployment rate / annual
Imports (total / year)
Export (total / year)
Balance of Payments / year
National Debt as % of GDP
Major trading partners
Major exports
Major imports
This assignment will count as 50 points towards your analytical paper and will be due on September 17, 2008.
Analytical
Paper and presentation
You will compare the approaches of your two countries in terms of how they approach international economics within the system. It will be written in steps leading to a finished product which will then be presented to the entire class at the end of the semester. This paper will be 15-20 pages and be worth in total 225 points, including all segments. More information on this paper will be given out on a separate sheet later in class.
Data sets due on September 17, 2008 (50 points)
10-15 peer reviewed sources due on September 29, 2009 (25 points)
Annotated bibliography of sources due on October 29, 2009 (50 points)
Paper due November 24, 2009 (100 points)
Presentation of Paper (50 points)
Students will be required to present a formal 10 minute presentation on the case they studied and their conclusions to the class. This presentation will count for 50 points towards the final class grade. Students will be able to sign up for a time to make their presentation later in the semester. Presentations are due during the period which you signed up and late work will not be accepted.
Presentations will be done
November 24, 2009
December 1, 2009
December 3, 2009 during period of final
PAPER IS DUE on NOVEMBER 24, 2009 in class. THIS MEANS YOU MUST BRING A PAPER COPY TO
CLASS TO TURN IN DURING CLASS.
There are a total of 575 points that can be earned within the scope of this course.
Tests = 200
Paper = 225
Participation = 50
Critical Reviews = 50
Presentation = 50
TURNITIN.COM information
IPE
ID Number: 2774305
Password: money
The following general grading scale will be used for participation and presentations:
A: The student made a very strong contribution to the course. Class discussion, comments, and/or presentations reflected a great deal of thought about the material, and were constructive (for example, not only identifying current weaknesses and showing how these weaknesses limit the current literature, but suggesting useful future directions that could help to overcome these weaknesses or to extend the literature in important ways).
B: The student contributed meaningfully to the course. Class participation and/or
presentations went beyond repeating the assigned material, perhaps identifying weaknesses in the current literature, but did not make many constructive suggestions about how these weaknesses might be overcome or how the literature might usefully be extended in the future.
C: The student did not contribute meaningfully. Class participation and/or presentations were limited to repeating the assigned material rather than making connections or extensions, or was filled with mistakes and inaccuracies.
D: The student was not prepared to participate in class. Class participation and or presentations were poorly done and lacked substantive material. Statements or presentations were will with mistakes and inaccuracies.
F: The student was a net drain on the course, rarely if ever speaking in class or failing to make the required number of presentations.
MAKE UP TESTS
If you miss a test there may be an opportunity to take a make up. Make ups tests are given at the sole discretion of the instructor. You must have a valid reason why you missed the test and be able to offer proof to support your position. Sleeping in or just not feeling up to it are not valid excuses. If you are sick go to the University Health Center or your personal doctor and get checked out. Make up tests if given must be completed within one week of the scheduled exam unless there are extenuating circumstances. The test will be in the form that the instructor chooses, normally all essay and it tends to be more difficult than the original test. You must contact the instructor prior to the test to even be considered for a make-up, you can either send me an email (which is preferred method) or leave a message on my office answering machine.
Academic Integrity Policy:
- Honor Code: "On my honor, I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, evade the truth or tolerate those who do."
- Suspected violations of the Academic Integrity policy should be referred by students to the instructor. If the instructor concludes that a violation of the Academic Integrity policy has occurred, the instructor will either (1) penalize the student and file an incident report with the Academic Integrity Council or (2) refer the matter directly to the Academic Integrity Council. If an incident report is filed by the instructor, the instructor will review the completed report with the student and will request that the student sign the report as an indication that the student is aware of the contents of the report.
PLAGIARISM
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT PLAGIARISING IN THIS COURSE, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN F FOR THE COURSE. YOU WILL THEN BE FORWARDED TO THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COUNCIL FOR FURTHER ACTION. I DO NOT TOLERATE PLAGIARISM IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.
PLAGIARISM DEFINED - is using others' ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information. Plagiarism is offering someone else's work as your own, whether one sentence or whole paragraphs, and whether from an internet source, book, periodical, or the writing of other students.
Plagiarism Software Check Statement
Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com site.
You will be submitting both of your research assignments and your tests to Turnitin for a plagiarism check. More information will be provide on how access turnitin for this course. In addition the instructor may use other approaches such as google searches or other methodology in addressing suspected plagiarism. Failure to turn in a test or paper to turn it in will result in an automatic 30% deduction from the final grade of that assignment.
BOOKS
The following text is required for this course
Cleaver, Tony. 2004. Economics: The Basics. New York: Routledge.
Frieden, Jeffry A. and David A. Lake. (eds.) 2000. International Political Economy: Perspectives on Global Power and Wealth 4th Edition. Wadsworth Thompson.
Gilpin, Robert. 2001. Global Political Economy: Understanding The International Economic Order. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week One: Introduction, What is international political economy?
Gilpin Ch 2
Week Two: Basic Economic Ideas and Elements
Skim Cleaver Ch 1-4
Neoclassical Conception of Economics
Gilpin Ch 3
Week Three: Liberalism, Mercantilism, Marxism
Frieden Ch 1-4
Week Four: Approaching the Study of IPE from Different Perspectives
Gilpin Ch 1, 4, 5, 6
Week Five: Continued
DATA DUE FOR COUNTRIES ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
Week Six Historical Developments within IPE and Post World War II – Bretton Woods system
Frieden Ch 5-8
Week Seven Continued – Test # 1
LIST OF 10-15 SOURCES FOR PAPER DUE BY SEPT 29, 2009
Week Eight National Economic Systems
Gilpin Ch 7
ARTICLE REVIEWS DUE BY OCTOBER 8, 2009
Fall Break October 9, 2009
Week Nine Trade
Gilpin Ch 8
Frieden Ch 19-24
Week Ten Trade
Continued
Week Eleven Money and Finance
Gilpin Ch 9 and 10
Frieden 13-18
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE BY OCT 29, 2009
Week Twelve Continued
Week Thirteen Regional Integration
Gilpin Ch 13
POSSIBLE GPSA MEETING
Week Fourteen Regional Integration continued
Week Fifteen State and Economic Development
Gilpin Ch 12
Frieden 25-28
PAPER DUE NOVEMBER 24, 2009
NOVEMBER 25-27, 2009 THANKSGIVING BREAK
PRESENTATIONS FOR PAPER NOV 24, DEC 1, DEC 3
Finals Week Test # 2 due at time of final
Final Thursday December 3, 2009 from 3:30pm-5:30pm –
Presentations done during final period
Information Literacy Statement (for 3-4000 level courses, optional in lower level courses)
Information Literacy Learning Outcomes*
1) The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the information needed. (Know)
2) The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently. (Access)
3) The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system. (Evaluates)
4) The information literate student, individually or as a member of a group, uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose. (Use)
5) The information literate student understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally. (Ethical/Legal)
*Learning Outcomes adapted from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) standards
This course through its two written assignments addresses IL Learning Outcomes #1, #2, #3, #4, and # 5
On-line evaluation
Class Evaluations: Class evaluations at NGCSU are now
conducted on-line through Banner. Evaluation of the class is considered a
component of the course and students will not be permitted to access their
course grade until the evaluation has been completed. The evaluations
will be accessible beginning one week prior to Final Exam week.
Early Alert Participation
I am committed to your success in this course and at this university. I may, therefore, refer you to other persons and/or services available to help you achieve academic success. In turn, if you are referred, you will be expected to comply with the referrals. Please understand that such referrals are not a form of punishment, rather, they are intended to help you.
NGCSU has implemented an Early Alert/Early Intervention program. I am a participating faculty member in the program. I may, then, refer you to other persons and/or services at the university designed to help you achieve your academic goals. You, in turn, will be expected to take advantage of the help offered to you.
As your teacher I am committed to your academic success, not only in this class, but at this university. If I feel you would benefit from some of the special services available to students, I will make the appropriate referral. I will, further, expect you to comply with the referral and take advantage of the services offered.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities:
North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU) is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and to the principle of individual rights and responsibilities. To that end, the policies and procedures of NGCSU reasonably ensure that a person with a disability is not, on the basis of that disability, denied full and equal access to and the enjoyment of academic programs and co-curricular activities or otherwise is subjected to discrimination in such programs and activities.
The policies for access by individuals with disabilities at NGCSU are designed to ensure full compliance with all pertinent federal and state legislation, specifically to include Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
To receive disability accommodations, the student should contact the Coordinator of Disability Resources, Office of Academic Support Programs, Room 207 Barnes Hall. Approval of reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis