Studying at York
The Politics of Global Trade - POL00057M
- Department: Politics and International Relations
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2022-23
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2023-24 |
Module aims
The purpose of this module is to identify, map and analyse the key historical, structural, institutional and normative correlates of global trade system. The module begins with a brief reflection on the historical foundations of the modern trade system, tracing the emergence of ‘free trade’ doctrine in the 18th and 19th centuries through to the establishment of the GATT in 1947, the WTO in 1995 and its subsequent paralysis in the 2000s. Next, the module considers competing theoretical approaches and key concepts – hegemony, institutions, interests and ideas – pertaining to why some nation-states pursue ‘liberal’ trade policies while others are more ‘protectionist’, and why this pattern varies across space, time and by sector. The module then goes on, at greater length, to analyse a number of substantive debates concerning the contemporary politics of global trade, including the WTO and the ‘governance of global trade; the rise of transnational enterprises and global value chains; the ‘rising powers’ in global trade; and global trade and development and the environment respectively. The final week will consider the prospects for the global trade system against the backdrop of the rise of populist-nationalism in North America and Europe (and elsewhere), Brexit, ‘trade wars’ and the institutional paralysis of the WTO system.
Seminars:
Week 1: The historical foundations of the global trade system
Week 2: Global trade politics in theoretical perspective
Week 3: The 'governance' of global trade
Week 4: Global value chains
Week 5: The 'rising powers'
Week 6: The global trade system and development
Week 7: The global trade system and the environment
Week 8: The global trade system in crisis?
Module learning outcomes
The aim of this module is to encourage students to think critically about a range of issues related to the politics of international trade and development. Students are then encouraged to apply their theoretical knowledge to empirical situations as we examine trade and development politics both historically and contemporaneously via a series of thematically organised seminar topics. By the end of this module students will be able to:
- Fully identify the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical approaches to the issues of trade and development;
- Demonstrate independent and critical understanding of the most important aspects of international trade, and to show awareness of the relationship between theory and practice therein;
- Demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable skills, including understanding complex concepts and theories, exercising critical judgement, making effective oral and written presentations, utilising specialist primary and secondary sources, and deepening the capacity for independent learning.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
- D. Irvin, Against the Tide: An Intellectual History of Free Trade (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1996).
- A. Narlikar (2005), The World Trade Organisation: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
- R. Wilkinson (2015), What’s Wrong with the WTO and How to Fix It (Cambridge: Polity).
- H.J. Chang (2002), Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective (London: Anthem Press).
- P. Gourevitch (1986), Politics in Hard Times: Comparative Responses to International Economic Crises (Cornell: Cornell University Press).
- R. Keohane (1984) After Hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy (Princeton: Princeton University Press);
- F. Trentmann, Free Trade Nation (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008)
- Bill Dunn (2015) Neither Free Trade Nor Protection: A Critical Political Economy of Trade Theory and Practice (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar).
- A.Shaikh (ed) (2006) Globalization and the Myth of Free Trade. (London: Routledge).
- R. Findlay and K. H. O’Rourke (2007) Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium. (Princeton University Press).
- F. De Ville and G. Siles-Brügge (201) TTIP: The Truth about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (Cambridge: Polity).