This is a page for INR 3038, International Wealth and Power (International Political Economy), with Dajin Peng as the teacher. The syllabus for the class will be provided along with the study guides for his tests. Peng's First Test Peng's Second Test Peng's Final Test Fall Semester 2009 Instructor: Dajin Peng
Course Objectives:
This course is an introduction to international political economy, the fastest-growing major fields in international studies. It is also becoming the largest field in international studies. With the end of the Cold War and almost all the major powers in the world turn their primary attention to economic affairs, especially in their mutual relations, international political economy is expected to have the dominant importance in international studies in the new millennium. Not only many international studies major students will concentrate on international political economy, but also a good knowledge of international political economy is essential to understand today’s world. That is why Wealth and Power has become a required course for international studies majors.
An interdisciplinary approach is necessary to study international political economy, given the broad scope of this field. Substantial attention is paid to economic studies. But the teaching of economic stuff in this course will be done in a straight-forward way, given the new background of the students of this course. The focus of this course is the interaction of wealth (economy) and power (politics). Historical, cultural and other approaches will also be extensively applied in this course. The past experience shows that this course can be one of the most challenging ones in Political Science and International Studies, especially for those who lack preparations in Economics. This requires closer cooperation between the instructor and students. The instructor will try the best to help every student out.
The major contents of the course can be divided into three parts: 1) general international trade and politics: There are four factors related to trade: WTO, trade cooperation, a society-centered approach, and a state-centered approach. 2) economic change and development, including industrialization, economic reform, and globalization (multinational corporations). 3) international money and finance, including international monetary system, exchange rate policies, international finance.
Office and Hours:
Office: Room 379 at the Social Science Building: Phone: 974-0789 E-Mail: peng@luna.cas.usf.edu Office Hours: Tuesday: 2:30-3:25 p.m. Wednesday 4:30-5:45 Thursday: 2:30-3:25 p.m.
I will be in my office most afternoons after 3:00. Please come at any time as long as you can catch me. If you want to be safe, you can call me in advance during non-office hours. Of course, I will always be in my office during office hours. I am sincerely welcoming students to my office, as I often feel lonely in my office. I always consider it fun to work with my students.
Requirements and Grading
There are three examinations for this course: First (30 percent), Second (30 percent) and Final (40%). The final will be comprehensive, with an emphasis on materials covered in the last third of the course. The first two examinations will have two essay questions (30 percent, only one has to be answered), eight concept explanations (30 percent, only six have to be answered) and twenty multiple-choice questions (40 percent). The final examination will have two essay questions (30 percent, both have to be answered), ten concept explanations (only eight have to be answered) and twenty five multiple-choice questions. This course has very strict examination policy. No make-up examination is allowed. Those who miss the exams will have to drop the course unless they are for urgent service of the government or military.
Since part of the information will be given out only through lectures, attendance is very important. Any second absence without prior consent or proof of incidence afterwards, will be punished by a deduction of 2% of the course grade. Those who have full attendance will be awarded 3 percent of extra credit. Please note that these credits are “extra” and are strictly for those who have been in class all the time no matter what. Those who have been in emergency or special circumstance will not get penalties but can not claim “extra credits”.
While grades are almost entirely based on the three tests, this instructor will provide opportunities for students to do well in case the tests cannot accurately reflect their performances. In order to encourage students to make extra efforts to study this course and more opportunities to do well, each student will be allowed to write up to two extra credit papers after each examination. The papers can be reading reports on current articles on economic or business topics. Please note that the articles you report on should be at least 15 pages in length. Each report has to be at least 3 pages (double space) in length. The original article has to be turned in together with the report. Each paper can be worth up to 3 percent of the grades added to the 1st or 2nd exam. The paper is due one week before the next examination.
To help you to find articles for extra credit, here are some hints:
Students are also encouraged to ask questions in class and the instructor will try to provide opportunities for discussion. While active participation is encouraged, attention should be given to maintain good order in class. Students who repeatedly offended the class discipline will receive a penalty.
Textbooks, Reserved Readings and Reference Materials
One textbook is required for this course: International Political Economy: Interests and Institutions in the Global Economy (fourth edition) by Oatley, Thomas (Pearson Education, 2010). In the reading schedule of the course calendar, the first book is referred as “B&V”, and second as “F”. There is also one article on electronic reserve. You can go to WebLuis and click “Electronic Reserves”, then search by the instructor’s last name, Peng. A journal article (by the instructor) is there. The title is “Invisible Linkages: A Regional Perspective of East Asian Political Economy”.
Course Calendar
Week 1: August 25 (T) Class Roll, Requirements of the course, Plan of the course, Why study IPE? Reading：Preface
August 27 (H) What is IPE? Global Economy in Historical Context， Early Days of IPE. Chapter 1
September 1 (T) The World Trade Organization and the World Trade System, What is the WTO? The Doha Round, Power and Interests in the World Trading System, Chapter 2
September 3 (H) The Evolving WTO: New Directions, New Challenges; Regional Trade Arrangements and the WTO, the United States and Free-Trade Agreements Chapter 2
September 8 (T) The Political Economy of International Trade Cooperation, the Economic Case for Trade, Chapter 3
September 10 (H) The Politics of Trade Cooperation, Distributive Bargaining and the Geneva Mini-Ministerial, the WTO and Trade Cooperation, Chapter 3
September 15 (T) A Society-Centered Approach to Trade Politics, Trade Policy Preferences, Trade Adjustment, the Collective Action Problem and Trade Policy Demands; Chapter 4
September 17 (H) Political Institutions and Interests in American Trade Politics, the Politics of American Agricultural Policy, Chapter 4
September 22 (T) A State-Centered Approach to Trade Politics, States and Industrial Policy, the Infant-Industry Case for Protection, the Political Foundation of Industrial Policy; Chapter 5
September 24 (H) Industrial Policy in High-technology Industries, Strategic Trade Theory, Strategic Rivalry in Semiconductors and Commercial Aircraft, Chapter 5
September 29 (T) Import Substitution Industrialization; Domestic Interests, International Pressures, and Protectionist Coalitions; Markets, Trade, and Economic Development, Chapter 6
October 1 (H) Domestic and International Elements of Trade and Development Strategies, Import Substitution Industrialization, the Millennium Development Goals, Chapter 6
October 6 (T) First Examination
October 8 (H) Economic Reform: Emerging Problems with Import Substitution Industrialization, the East Asia Model, Chapter 7
October 13 (T) Structural Adjustment and the Politics of Reform, Economic Reform in China, Developing Countries and the WTO Chapter 7
October 15 (H) Multinational Corporations in the Global Economy, Economic Explanations for MNCs, Locational Advantages Chapter 8
October 20 (T) Market Imperfections, MNCs and Host Countries, Redistributing Venezuelan Oil Profits Chapter 8
October 22 (H) The Politics of MNCs, Regulating MNCs, Sovereign Wealth funds, Bargaining with MNCs Chapter 9
October 27 (T) Luring the German Luxury Car Producers to the US South, International Regulation of MNCs, The Race to the Bottom Chapter 9
October 29 (H) The International Monetary System, the Economics of the International Monetary System, The Classical Gold Standard Chapter 10
November 3 (T) The Rise and Fall of the Bretton Woods System, From Dollar Shortage to the Dollar Glut, Who Should Adjust? Chapter 10
November 5 (H) Second Examination
November 10 (T) Contemporary International Monetary Arrangements, International Financial Integration, The Unholy Trinity, Life Under Floating Exchange Rates Chapter 11
November 12 (H) Managing Exchange Rates in a World of Mobile Capital, A Cooperative Solution to the US Financial Crisis? Speculative Attacks and the Prospect for Exchange-rate Reform Chapter 11
November 17 (T) A Society-centered Approach to Monetary and exchange-rate Policies Chapter 12
November 19 (H) A State-centered Approach to Monetary and Exchange-rate Policies Chapter 13
November 24 (T) Developing Countries and International Finance I, Chapter 14
December 1 (T) Developing Countries and International Finance II, Chapter 15
December 3 (H) Globalization: Consequences and Controversies, Chapter 16
December 10 (H) 3:00-5:00 p.m. Final Examination
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