International political economy (IPE) is a branch of political science and economics that analyzes international relations in combination with political economy.

As economics became increasingly central to international relations in the 1970s and 1980s, the subfield of international political economy expanded.  Scholars of IPE study trade relations and financial relations among nations, and try to understand how nations have cooperated politically to create and maintain institutions that regulate the flow of international economic and financial transactions.

As a theory of International Relations, it discusses the inseparable nature of Power and Wealth, reflected through the interactions of the State and the Market Economy. Emphasized within this theory is the interdependence among states and their societies. The now present Global Economy has created a transnational economy within a system of competing states.

The Purpose of the IPE theory is to suggest direction for further investigation within the area of International Relations.

This week we will be examining economic organization and the principles and components that make up any economy.  Your lectures will be the weekly reading assignment links given each week.

1.  What is International Political Economy?

http://www2.ups.edu/ipe/whatisipe.htm

2.  Why is it important to understand economics?

http://minneapolisfed.org/pubs/region/98-12/walstad.cfm :

 3.  Douglass C. North – Prize Lecture on Economics

http://nobelprize.org/economics/laureates/1993/north-lecture.html

 4.  Using a social capital perspective to understand social and economic development

http://policyresearch.gc.ca/page.asp?pagenm=v6n3_art_06

  Week #1 Work Assignment:

This week’s work assignment is writing a 6-8 page paper on what key principles and components make up a economy.

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 Reading Assignment #2:

 This week we will compare and contrast economic systems.

 This week you will go to the following site and study the differences between different economic systems.  There are 4 basic economic systems and you will be studying the differences found in each.

 http://regentsprep.org/Regents/global/themes/economic/index.cfm

 Week #2 Work Assignment:

This week using the website link provided and any other online resources of your choosing, you will write a 6-8 page paper comparing two different economic systems.

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Reading Assignment #3:

This week we will address and explore current shifts in economic priority among the nations of the world.  Your assignment will be to read the following articles:

 1.  The Genesis of the current Global Economic System

http://are.berkeley.edu/~adelman/KEYNOTE.html

 2.  International Political Economy: Beyond Hegemonic Stability

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/milner.htm

  Week #3 Work Assignment:

This week based on the article you read and other online research of your choosing, prepare a 6-8 page paper on the current Global economic system and the current shifts that you have observed.

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 Reading Assignment #4

This week we will examine the free enterprise economy in its contrast to traditional definitions of capitalism.

 1.  Definitions of Capitalism

http://www.answers.com/capitalism&r=67

 2.  Definitions of free enterprise

http://www.answers.com/free%20enterprise

http://www.dallasfed.org/educa te/everyday/ev5.html

http://www.dallasfed.org/educate/everyday/ev5.html

 Week #4 Work Assignment:

This week using the reading assignments and any other online research of your choosing, prepare a 6-8 page paper in your own words defining what capitalism and the free enterprise system are and how they contrast each other.

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Reading Assignment #5:

Be aware of the economic management systems in place in key world regions and countries.

 This week’s assignment is to go to the APEC website. This website is a major resource for viewing the economies of the key world regions.  By going to this site you will see how these countries work together and how the world is doing overall by examining the key economic indicators and the various economy reports.

APEC's 21 Economic Members are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Republic of the Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; Viet Nam.

 http://www.apecsec.org.sg/

 Another resource for this project is:

http://globaledge.msu.edu/ibrd/countryindex.asp

Week #5 Work Assignment:

This week’s assignment is to examine 4 of the above countries and find the 2 that are the most stable and the 2 that are the least stable based on the key economic indicators.  This is to be 6-8 pages in length comparing them based on their economic reports.  What do your findings indicate?

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Week #6:  FINAL PAPER

Final Paper:  International Political Economy

 Objective:  Develop a paper on your personal views of The International Economy

Assignment:  Please choose one of the below themes from this course's assignments, one that especially appeals to you, and develop a paper in your own words you may use other online resources.

Themes include (please choose 1):  

1.   Disciplines which relate to political economy

2.  General paradigms of political economy

3.  Paradigms of distribution

4.  Paradigms of production

Format:
Your paper should be 10-12 pages in length and your strategy documentation should be developed in good report form, using either MLA or APA style for all external resources.