OCEU 2105 - Europe and the Political Economy of Globalization

***UPDATED for 2026/27***

Globalisation – and perhaps now de-globalisation too – have attracted the growing attention of citizens, policy-makers and academics alike, generating much concern and a vast and diverse literature. The purpose of this course is to offer an advanced level of understanding of this literature and the issues it raises for European political economies. Students will unpack this substantial body of theory, research and empirical evidence to assess: (i) the extent (if any) of the break that ‘globalisation’ marks with the past; (ii) the distinct and often contradictory processes that interact to produce the effects referred to as ‘globalisation’; (iii) the degree to which the parameters of the politically and economically possible have been reconfigured by such processes; (iv) the possibilities for effective and democratic global governance in this context; (v) the extent to which the global financial crisis and, indeed, Covid require us to reconsider our answers to these questions; and (vi) whether it is credible to think that we no longer live in an age of globalisation but one of de-globalisation.

The course begins with a general introduction to our understandings of globalisation, reviewing the literature on and evidence for economic globalisation. In the second section of the course, the impact of globalisation on the autonomy and sovereignty of the nation-state in Europe, the relationship between globalisation and European regionalisation and the policy implications of globalisation in Europe are the focus of attention. The politics ‘drivers’ of globalisation (and de-globalisation), the extent to which globalisation can be held accountable democratically, the reversibility of globalisation and the implications of the global financial crisis and Covid are consistent themes of the course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate independent and critical understanding of the most important aspects of globalisation
• Show awareness of the relationship between theory and practice in relation to the international/comparative political economy literatures
• Fully identify the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical approaches to the study of globalisation and assess critically the competing claims that are made regarding the impact of economic integration on a range of countries
• Demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable skills, including understanding complex concepts and theories, exercising critical judgement and using a range of problem-solving techniques; making effective oral contributions and written presentations, utilising specialist primary and secondary sources, and deepening the capacity for independent learning
• Write scholarly and grammatically correct essays that are referenced in accordance with established academic practice.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• Understanding complex concepts and theories, exercising critical judgement and using a range of problem-solving techniques;
• Making effective oral contributions and written presentations, utilising specialist primary and secondary sources, and deepening the capacity for independent learning
• Writing scholarly and grammatically correct prose that is referenced in accordance with established academic practice.

Written feedback to students will be provided typically 2-3 weeks after coursework is submitted.

• Journal article review 50%
• Essay 50%

Journal article review – Write a 1200 word critical assessment of one of the readings (journal article, chapter or book) that appears on this course reading list (including the annexe).

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 5 hours a week / 60 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 5 hours a week / 60 hours a semester