Syllabus for Fall 2004
Over the past two decades, the visibility of political
conflict over international economic relations has increased steadily. This
conflict is often portrayed as a pitched battle between fierce free-market
advocates and equally fierce opponents of any form of economic globalization. Television coverage of street violence erupting amid protests
surrounding recent international economic summits (Geneva in 1998, in Seattle in
1999, Prague and Washington, DC in 2000, Genoa and Quebec City in 2001,
Barcelona in 2002, and Miami in 2003)
visually dramatizes the disagreement but does little to help us understand the
issues under debate. What factors drive the political disagreements over
economic globalization? What is new (and what is not so new) in the politics
of international economic relations?
The first half of the course begins with an overview of analytic
perspectives for the understanding of international political economy. Then we
examine major political issues in international economic exchange –
particularly in trade, monetary policy, and finance. At the outset of the second half of the semester, we examine central
issues in the politics of economic development and of multinational corporations
. The course
concludes with an in-depth examination of trade politics in the Americas that
integrates and applies the previous course materials. This part of the course will culminate in a trade negotiation simulation
in which students will role-play different countries’ governments and and I
will role-play different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) within and across
those countries.
Throughout the course we will focus on the political dynamics of economic
ties, but we will also consider the policy implications of different
international economic strategies as those perceived implications shape the
political dynamics of these issues. The
three written assignments will all be integrated into the course simulation of
the Free Trade Agreement for the Americas (FTAA) negotiations. Accordingly, as
you work on those assignments you will also be preparing for the simulation.
EVALUATION:
Class Participation -- 10%
Take-Home Analysis #1 (3pp. max.) -- 10%
Mid-Term -- 25%
Take-Home Analysis #2 (3pp. max.) -- 10%
Policy Brief (15-20pp.) -- 20%
Final Exam -- 25%
PROCEDURES:
As a point of fairness to your classmates, the honor code must be observed at all times
& written work must be handed in promptly. Tests must be handed in at the end of the
class period. Lab work and written work handed in late will be penalized 5 points plus an
additional 5 points for every additional 24-hour period. All work is to be
original work done specifically for this course. The class participation grade
will be determined by performance in the class simulation. Make-up exams and late course withdrawals will be
permitted only under exceptional
circumstances: do not assume that you will be allowed to take a make-up test or
to withdraw from the course late in the semester. Readings
should be completed by class time of the date listed. The professor reserves the right to
alter this course outline as circumstances demand. For further discussion of course policies, see the appropriate portion of the course website.
TEXTS:
Balaam, David & Michael Veseth. Introduction to International
Political Economy. 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice-Hall, 2005.
Broad, Robin, ed. Global Backlash: Citizen Initiatives for a Just World
Economy. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002.
Cameron, Maxwell & Brian Tomlin. The Making of NAFTA: How the Deal Was
Done. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002.
Friedman, Thomas. The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization.
New York: Anchor Books, 2000.
Salazar-Xirinachs, Jose & Maryse Robert, eds. [SXR] Toward Free Trade in the
Americas. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution & the OAS, 2001.
Additional readings will be made available in online form. Go to the
appropriate date on this online syllabus for details and hyperlinks.
COURSE OUTLINE:
 REMEMBER: Many
of the dates in this syllabus are hyperlinked. Right-click on the active links to download
outlines and tables associated with the day's class session. A menu will pop up;
left-click on "save link as" to get a dialog box for downloading the
file. Specify the appropriate drive, folder, and file name and then left-click on save to
download the file. These are rich text format outline (RTF) files that are most compatible
with Word. From Word you can modify formatting and/or print the outlines.
If your computer has Word installed, you also
have the option of left-clicking on the link to load the file immediately into Word for
editing and/or printing.
Part I: An Overview of the Politics of the International Economy
Points of Emphasis: perspectives on IPE
(mercantilism, liberalism, structuralism, & institutionalism)
WEEK ONE:
Aug. 23 – Course Introduction
== HANDOUT
Aug. 25 – Understanding International
Political Economy (IPE)
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.3-32
== Friedman, pp.3-28
Aug.27 – The Mercantilist Perspective
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.25-42
== Friedman, pp.29-43
WEEK TWO:
Aug. 30 – The Liberal Perspective
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.45-65
== Friedman, pp.44-72
Sep. 1 -- The Structuralist Perspective
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.67-85
== Friedman, pp.73-100
Sep. 3 -- The Institutionalist Perspective
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.87-101
== Friedman, pp.101-142
WEEK THREE:
Sep. 6 -- PERSPECTIVES in ACTION: The Debate over
Globalization
**post an entry to the course discussion thread on Blackboard after reading the
Broad assignment**
== Broad, pp.1-59
Sep. 8 -- An IPE Case Study in Progress: The Free
Trade Agreement of the Americas
== Salazar-Xirinachs & Robert, pp.1-40
== Friedman, pp.144-166
Part II: The Politics of International Trade, Monetary Management, &
Finance
Points of Emphasis: terminology, tradeoffs,
& institutions in trade, intellectual property, monetary management, and
finance; society-centered & state-centered explanations of their political
dynamics
Sep. 10 -- Trade Terminology & Issues
== Balaam & Veseth , pp.110-131
== Friedman, pp.167-193
{SIMULATION ASSIGNED}
WEEK FOUR:
Sep. 13 -- The Evolution of International
Trade
== INFOTRAC "Seeds
Sown for Future Growth: The Doha Round" The Economist 11/17/01
== INFOTRAC
"Dust-Up
in Doha" The Nation 12/10/01
== INFOTRAC
"The WTO Under Fire: The Doha Round" The Economist 9/20/03
== INFOTRAC
"Now Harvest It: World Trade" The Economist 8/7/04
== Friedman, pp.194-247
Sep. 15 -- Economic Integration in the
Americas & Beyond
== Salazar-Xirinachs & Robert, pp.45-107
{ANALYSIS #1 asssigned}
Sep. 17 -- Trade in Manufacturing & Agriculture in
the Americas & Beyond
== Salazar-Xirinachs & Robert, pp.125-140
== Friedman, pp.248-275
WEEK FIVE:
Sep. 20 -- Intellectual Property in the
Americas & Beyond
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.208-224
== Salazar-Xirinachs & Robert, pp.207-229
Sep. 22 -- Trade Dispute Resolution in the
Americas & Beyond
== Salazar-Xirinachs & Robert, pp.255-275
== Friedman, pp.276-324
Sep. 24 -- Monetary Terminology & Issues
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.133-154
== Friedman, pp.327-347
WEEK SIX:
Sep. 27 -- The Evolution of International
Monetary Management
==
reading
1 on BLACKBOARD
==
reading
2 on BLACKBOARD
== Friedman, pp.348-364
Sep. 29 -- Financial Terminology & Issues
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.157-179
== Friedman, pp.367-405
{ANALYSIS #1 DUE at 11:15am on 9/29}
Oct. 1 -- From International Finance to Global
Finance
==
reading
1 on BLACKBOARD
== reading
2 on Economist.com ["Japan's Tough Choice" The Economist 1/14/02]
== Friedman, pp.406-433
WEEK SEVEN:
Oct. 4 -- The LDC Debt Crisis
==
reading
1 on BLACKBOARD
==
reading
2 on BLACKBOARD
== Friedman, pp.434-475
Oct. 6 -- PERSPECTIVES in ACTION: Thomas Friedman & the
Globalization Debate plus pre-test review
== review Friedman
Oct. 8 -- VIDEO
WEEK EIGHT:
Oct. 11 -- MID-TERM
Oct. 13 -- TEST REVIEW & SIMULATION PREPARATION
== Broad, pp.65-111
Oct. 15 -- FALL BREAK: no class...
Part III: The Politics of Development, Production, & Corporate Conduct
Points of Emphasis: terminology &
issues related to economic development, multinational corporations, and cartels,
society-centered & state-centered explanations of their political dynamics
WEEK NINE:
Oct. 18 -- Production and the Development
Debate
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.319-344
== Broad, pp.173-185
{ANALYSIS #2 asssigned}
Oct. 20 -- Economic Development in the
Americas
== INFOTRAC "Poverty
Reduction" Finance and Development v37 Mar. 2000
== INFOTRAC "The
Unfinished Poverty Agenda: Why Latin America and the Caribbean Lag Behind"
Finance and Development v38 Mar. 2001
== INFOTRAC "The
New Economic Model in Latin America and its Impact on Income Distribution and
Poverty. [book review]" Studies in Comparative International
Development v34 Spring 1999
== INFOTRAC
"Latin America
Lags Behind" Newsweek International 7/5/04
== Broad, pp.188-235
Oct. 22 -- The Evolving Role of Multinational
Corporations
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.346-366
== Broad, pp.243-255
WEEK TEN:
Oct. 25 -- The Politics of Corporate Conduct
== Broad, pp.258-295
Oct. 27 -- Oil Production and Natural Resource Issues
== Balaam & Veseth, pp. 369-384
== Broad, pp.117-127
Oct. 29 -- SIMULATION GROUP MEETINGS
== Broad, pp.129-167
Part IV: The Politics of Trade in the Americas
Points of Emphasis: theories of integration dynamics,
NAFTA bargaining, the politics of the FTAA, the politics of food trade
WEEK ELEVEN:
Nov. 1 -- The Politics of Regional Integration
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.264-279
== "The
New Wave of Regionalism" International Organization v53 Summer 1999
Nov. 3 -- NAFTA: An Overview
== Cameron & Tomlin, pp.1-50
Nov. 5 -- NAFTA Bargaining: The Early Stages
== Cameron & Tomlin, pp. 51-126
{ANALYSIS #2 DUE at 11:15am on 11/5}
WEEK TWELVE:
Nov. 8 -- NAFTA Bargaining: The Final Stages
== Cameron & Tomlin, pp. 126-207, 225-236
Nov. 10 -- The FTAA Negotiations
== Salazar-Xirinachs & Robert, pp.279-300
Nov. 12 -- Simulation Group Meetings
WEEK THIRTEEN:
Nov. 15 -- SIMULATION Day 1
Nov. 17 -- SIMULATION Day 2
Nov. 19 -- SIMULATION Day 3
WEEK FOURTEEN:
Nov. 22 -- SIMULATION Day 4
Nov. 24-26 -- THANKSGIVING BREAK: no class...
WEEK FIFTEEN:
Nov. 29 -- Simulation Debriefing, "Global Backlash," & the
Globalization Debate Revisited
== Broad, pp.301-308
Dec. 1 -- The IPE of Food
== Balaam & Veseth, pp.425-447
Dec. 3 -- Course Wrap-Up
{Policy Brief DUE at 11:15am on 12/3}
**FINAL EXAM: Friday 12/10/04 from 10:30am to 12:30pm**
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