Political Science Course - see attachments for details
Some IPE research questions (Note that most of these are too broad to be the precise topic for a paper but could be narrowed down to a manageable topic within the general frameworks given below. In other words, these are questions and suggestions that should be seen as starting points for your research and thought.) How have states tried to manage globalization’s negative externalities and impacts on the environment, resources, culture, and/or society? What are the tensions between ‘market fundamentalism’ (laissez-faireism) and protectionism? In what ways is it possible to imagine re-embedding markets into society and its cultural institutions? (Draw on Polanyi’s work here – see Fred Block’s Intro to The Great Transformation for a good overview) With the rise of global production, how have the gains from trade and growth been distributed between different social groups and countries? How do states balance their domestic political needs with their international obligations? Which social forces play the largest role in determining this balance? ‘Cui bono’? How do social groups and ideas influence markets and states? For instance, the role of social movements in challenging neoliberal austerity programs, or the transnational organization of labour, etc. What are the causes and consequences of inequality between and within countries? How is the rise of China, India, Russia, and Brazil reshaping the global economy? Is it a fundamental change OF the system or a change WITHIN the system? What are the implications of either one? What do financial crises reveal about the nature of capitalism and challenges of market regulation? Are states losing power relative to illicit markets and TNCs? How do technological changes affect political and economic processes? (automatization of work, etc.) One can apply feminist GPE theory/a gender perspective to any number of issues and events in GPE, including major state institutions of global economic governance (finance ministries, the IMF, central banks, etc.), trade (e.g., gender inequalities in the impacts of free trade), division of labour (the gendered division of labour in export processing zones, etc.), to name just a few. One might also conduct an intersectional analysis of key issue areas (e.g., exploring the intersection of race, class, and gender in global trade). To what extent can international institutions provide global governance and systemic order in the face of social and political resistance? What are the limitations of such institutions? What are the analytical and policy linkages between food, energy, and the environment? What role do sovereign wealth funds play in today’s GPE? Do alternative spaces, such as the World Social Forum, have a role to play in the pursuit of a more stable world order? Is ‘another world possible’? How does trade liberalization create winners and losers both within and between countries? How does it generate political problems? A critical analysis of the rules structuring global trade and its associated institutions (power, impact, etc.) Regional trading patterns and relationships – rise of regional trade blocs Trade & … environment, civil society, security, labor (outsourcing) Int’l monetary regimes and state sovereignty (policy control) Currency manipulation Capital flows, FDI, portfolio investment US dollar & other key reserve currencies MNCs & impact on dev’t, the state, etc. Corporate responsibility (social, environmental) & accountability Int’l dev’t – N-S relations, institutions of dev’t (WB, BRICS dev’t bank, etc.) Climate change – intersection with other areas, nature of economic system Risk mgmt. – how are some shielded from risk in the GPE while others are exposed to greater risk? (context of neoliberalism) Offshore financing, tax havens, tax avoidance, etc. – PE consequences for states and societies, links to neoliberalism/financialization The use of economic sanctions and their human impact/are they effective?/differential impact on groups in society, etc. The global mining industry and human rights violations, labour exploitation, environmental damage, a vehicle for surplus extraction out of the country? How are they governed globally (any governance regime)? Solutions to some of these problems? Remittances POL3103A Fall 2022 Notes, guidelines, and a structure for the ‘all but the paper’ assignment (due Dec. 7) A creative and informative title Topic statement – within a short introduction explaining your topic and an overall plan for the paper - should be 2-3 paragraphs at most NOTE: In the syllabus, I have said that you are required to upload a separate document before the deadline giving your topic and explanation. THIS IS NO LONGER REQUIRED. If you are concerned about the acceptability of your topic, you can always ask me. A one sentence research question (proposed/tentative thesis) based on the topic statement An outline for the paper using the standard Roman Numeral outline format (more than just a few words per item, but don’t actually write the paper! Just give a sense of what you want to do in each part of the paper and your initial thoughts on what you will find/write) I. Major section heading a. Detail/subsection b. Detail/subsection i. Minor detail or note Brief conclusion for the proposal (2-3 paragraphs at most) – here you will very briefly sum up the purpose of the paper, what you hope to show with it, and a justification (why you think it is a valuable topic to address) Sources – at least 6 scholarly sources to be the foundation of your research, should be used to contextualize the topic and situate within the existing literature – annotate each of them, a paragraph or so to explain the general theme of the source and specifically how you will use it, annotations should show that you have read and know the source (don’t just provide a description of the topic of the source!) While there is no set length for the entire project, based on the above requirements, you’re looking at something like 4 or 5 pages, but more is okay. Length isn’t really a grade component, however. Breakdown of mark for the paper: (the weight or value of each item out of 100) 10 - Topic statement 15 - Research question 15 - Introduction 20 - Outline 15 - Conclusion 25 - Sources