Political Econ of Capitalism

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Capitalism is everywhere. It shapes our lives, the lives of future generations, and sets the parameters for political debates. Thus, understanding how the economy affects politics and society and how political and social dynamics shape the economy is crucial. Seeing through the sanitized dogmatism of ideological debates surrounding the notion of capitalism is more important than ever. The core conceptual tools of economics are of little help in this. We need the help of political economy. This course will explore modern capitalism from the perspective of political science, sociology, history, and comparative political economy. No equations, no math. Only texts and debates that give meaning to numbers and allow us to understand the emergence and working of modern capitalism. The course comprises three modules: the fundamentals, the building blocks of modern capitalism, and contemporary debates. Each module consists of eight substantive sessions (lectures and discussions), one class wholly dedicated to student projects, plus one class for Q&A and the end. Assessment is based on student projects, class attendance, reading quizzes, and a final exam. Students with proven interest in pursuing an honors degree can opt for a writing project instead of the exam.