Studying at York
State, Economy and Society - POL00072I
- Department: Politics and International Relations
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
Module summary
The module examines the core subject for the study of Politics: the state. It has four main objectives: (i) to explore distinct approaches to political economy; (ii) to develop an appreciation of the key issues in modern state theory; (iii) to examine competing approaches to political economy and theories of the state; and (iv) to develop analytical skills drawn from different disciplines including politics, economics, sociology, and law.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
Market-liberals want the state to be both minimal and strong, while others see the state as a condition of economic wealth and/or as a means for a just and fair society. In this module we will interrogate the nature of these assumptions relative to the development of political economy over the past few centuries. In particular, we will consider what is to be understood by the state; the ways in which the state is related to society and to the economy; the role of social production and reproduction and their connection to the state; and the relationship between the democratic and liberal aspects of the state.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of this module a student should be able to:
- Critically evaluate different theories of the state in relation to the empirical material covered on the module.
- Show an ability to synthesize insights from different disciplines - politics, economics, sociology, and law.
Module content
Likely structure to include:
1 Smith - Wealth of Nations
2 Marx - Critique of Pol Econ
3 Social Reproduction - the feminist critique of capital
4 Racial capitalism, imperialism and the Global division of labour
5 Financialisation and the limits of accumulation
6 Keynes and state intervention
7 Hayek, Schumpeter and economic planning
8 Polanyi
9 The problem of democracy
10 Foucault and governmentality
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.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days after submission; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor's regular feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
Bonefeld, W. (2017) The Free Economy and the Strong State. Rowman and Littlejohn, London.
Cristi, R., Carl Schmitt and Authoritarian Liberalism, University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 1998.
Hayek, F. The Road to Serfdom, various editions.
Heilbronner, R (2000). The Worldly Philosophers, Penguin, London.
Lenin, V., (various) State and Revolution, various editions.
Marx, K. and Engels, F., The communist Manifesto, various editions.