POLECON 85
What Is Political Economy and How Should We Do It?
This course is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on history, philosophy and the social sciences to answer the question “What is political economy and how should we do it?” We will examine the relationships between political economy, liberal democracy, the nation-state and empire, explore the influence of institutions, ideas and identities on political economy, and analyze different topics, methodologies and mediums of communication. In doing so we will ask whether political economy is an empirical subject that seeks to describe the world, a normative endeavor that seeks to change it for the better, or something else entirely.
Topics
- Read and analyze academic and popular texts effectively and efficiently Understand the historical and theoretical contexts within which different forms of political economy operate • Understand the historical and theoretical contexts within which different forms of political economy operate Understand the historical and theoretical contexts within which different forms of political economy operate Apply key theoretical frameworks, concepts and historical understandings to specific problems in contemporary society, offering critiques and potential solutions Be able to write and speak about key substantive and methodological issues in political economy coherently and knowledgably Decide whether political economy is something they would like to pursue as a field of study Proceed with a substantive project in political economy if they so desire
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027