Comparative Political Economy

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course studies the political dynamics of economic relations, examining cross-national variation in the role of the state and private actors, relationships between labor and capital, and exposure to the international system. We will focus on the interaction of political institutions and systems of economic organization, including production regimes, financial markets, and social welfare policy. We will give special attention to recent reforms and restructuring in the face of globalization and economic crises. Examples will be drawn from Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and East Asia. As a seminar, this course will require active preparation and participation by students. Requirements include: • Roughly 150-200 pages a week of reading. This will generally include one extended work or related set of papers by a single author. • Regular participation in the discussion in class each week. • Three short response papers (3 pages maximum) in response to a particular week’s reading. These papers should be posted on the Blackboard discussion board no later than midnight the night before our class session, and all students should read them prior to coming to class. • One five-page paper prospectus due before the middle of the term. • One research paper, examining a specific labor-related policy or political outcome, in the region or country of the student’s choosing. In consultation with the instructor, this paper should be tailored to fit with the student’s academic program and educational goals