Course coordinator
Dr Melissa Johnston
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course critically examines the organization of the international political economy, considering its significance for everyday life. International Political Economy (IPE) explores the respective roles of states, politics, markets, social forces, and key economic actors (such as corporations) in shaping the international economic order. The course focuses on developments in the 'real' economy of production and trade, and major trends in the financial sector, including the growing instability of financial markets and financial crises. We also explore how domestic politics, and international forces shape economic development in non-core or 'emerging market' economies. Adopting a critical, historically-informed, and interdisciplinary approach, this course is guided by questions about inequalities and injustices in the political economy of development in a globalized world. It links the international arena to the domestic and the local, addressing issues like poverty, social class, and gender. A core objective is to analyze contemporary issues like these in light of their historical constitution via capitalist development and colonial legacies. The course actively highlights and seeks to correct "blind spots" in IPE scholarship, particularly concerning gendered and racial inequalities that have been insufficiently integrated into political economy analyses. We emphasize that political outcomes are determined by struggles between socio-political forces, including social classes, ethnic, religious, gendered, and state-based groupings. In this light, we can focus on how institutions reflect and entrench existing power distributions. By examining these power dynamics, the course provides a nuanced and critical understanding of how the global political economy operates and its profound implications for human well-being.
The course aims to provide an advanced, critical, and historically-informed understanding of the global political economy and its development. It emphasizes the interplay of politics, economics, and social forces, examining how states, markets, and key actors shape the international economic order. A core objective is to critically evaluate competing perspectives on ‘globalisation’, including its current manifestations as ‘neoliberal financialization’ ‘platform capitalism’ or hyperglobalization, and its impact on national economies and state power.
A central aim is to uncover and challenge power relations, inequalities, and injustices within the global system, linking global dynamics to their local implications, such as poverty, social exclusion, and gender inequality. Students will engage with diverse theoretical perspectives (e.g., Mercantilism, Liberalism, Marxism, Feminism) to address critical "blind spots" in International Political Economy (IPE) scholarship, including institutionalized racism, misogyny, and the continuing legacies of colonialism.
The course equips students with the tools to critically analyze the complex interplay of politics and economics on a global scale, paying particular attention to how power dynamics, historical legacies, and persistent inequalities manifest, especially through the lenses of class, gender, and race
Course requirements
Assumed background
POLS7107 is a core (mandatory) course in the Master of International Relations. It is designed to provide an advanced-level learning experience. To participate successfully and to the maximum benefit, students should have at least introductory level knowledge of basic concepts, methods and approaches in international relations and political science.
If you are not sure whether choosing POLS7107 is advisable at the stage you are at, please contact the Course Convenor.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Melissa Johnston
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course is taught in two-hour seminar blocks each week. There are 12 seminars, starting in Week 1.
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to provide an advanced, critical, and historically-informed understanding of the global political economy and its development. It emphasizes the interplay of politics, economics, and social forces, examining how states, markets, and key actors shape the international economic order. A core objective is to critically evaluate competing perspectives on ‘globalisation’, including its current manifestations as ‘neoliberal financialization’ ‘platform capitalism’ or hyperglobalization, and its impact on national economies and state power. A central aim is to uncover and challenge power relations, inequalities, and injustices within the global system, linking global dynamics to their local implications, such as poverty, social exclusion, and gender inequality. Students will engage with diverse theoretical perspectives (e.g., Mercantilism, Liberalism, Marxism, Feminism) to address critical "blind spots" in International Political Economy (IPE) scholarship, including institutionalized racism, misogyny, and the continuing legacies of colonialism. The course equips students with the tools to critically analyze the complex interplay of politics and economics on a global scale, paying particular attention to how power dynamics, historical legacies, and persistent inequalities manifest, especially through the lenses of class, gender, and race.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Analyse global political economic dynamics, including the international institutional arrangements through which they are shaped and managed, and their interconnected local implications, demonstrating the ability to apply disciplinary knowledge in a variety of settings.
LO2.
Critique global political economy, analysing how state forms, international institutions, gendered and racial capitalism shape uneven development today.
LO3.
Interrogate contemporary inequalities and injustices in global political economy, analysing how historical processes of colonialism, imperialism, and patriarchy shape uneven development and reproduce persistent social hierarchies.
LO4.
Conduct critical analysis of case studies and examples in the international political economy, and effectively communicate this analysis in high-quality written (in-class tests, research essays, exams) and verbal forms, demonstrating strong information and communication skills.
LO5.
Formulate and execute self-directed critical research in the international political economy of development by surveying, selecting, and reconstructing contemporary scholarship, fostering advanced scholarship and the responsible use of knowledge within the field.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
In Class Quiz
|
15% |
26/08/2025 - 27/08/2025 |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Seminar Participation
|
12% |
28/07/2025 - 27/10/2025 |
| Essay/ Critique |
Research Essay (2500 words)
|
35% |
24/10/2025 5:00 pm |
| Examination |
Examination
|
38% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
In Class Quiz
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
26/08/2025 - 27/08/2025
Task description
Time: 90 minutes (plus 10 minutes reading and question time)
Open book, no laptops or phones.
Students need to bring their photo ID into the seminar.
Short answer response (around 250 words per question); handwritten.
Quiz Questions: You will be provided with a list of unseen questions (a list of five) and will be required to answer three (3) questions. Your short answers should be concise and factual, use active voice, and have a clear structure with a logical flow. Please see the marking rubric in Blackboard for more details.
Each question will ask you to describe a concept or debate covered in the first four weeks of the course, that is, concepts covered in the theoretical topics of: the discipline of IPE; mercantilism; liberalism; marxism and feminism. You should engage the required as well as recommended readings for POLS7107.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission:
The responses for the in class quiz will be submitted on paper in person at the end of your seminar.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Seminar Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 12%
- Due date
28/07/2025 - 27/10/2025
Task description
The Seminar Participation mark is based on your attendance and active participation in seminar discussions, activities, and notetaking, with 1% awarded for each week of active participation in the seminar.
Please note: Preparation in advance for each seminar-- especially covering the required readings (and the background readings if you need to) AND preparing notes on each seminar question for each topic - will make for better and engaging discussions. These discussions are an invaluable opportunity to engage constructively and respectfully with others in the group. Seminars also provide an opportunity to address any specific questions that you may have about the readings and / or topic more generally
You may use AI during seminars, however, in discussions, if you are drawing on AI, you should tell your peers and your instructor.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
For students who are unable to attend a seminar and have personal or compassionate grounds for their absence, they may, upon discussion with the Course Coordinator, be able to submit a 500 word argument based response to one of the seminar questions listed in Blackboard for that week. The due date of the written response is up to the discretion of the Course Coordinator, but generally no later than one week after the missed seminar. As with other written work in the unit, AI use must be disclosed in the written response in the form of a step by step outline of all AI tasks and prompts. Failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct.
Research Essay (2500 words)
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
24/10/2025 5:00 pm
Task description
The research essay is an extended, argument based answer to a single question.
You will be given a list of essay questions and be expected to respond to one question from the list in an argumentative essay format. The language use should be formal and academic. It is a research essay, so we expect you to draw on peer reviewed and primary sources outside of the course content, however, in this course we expect you to engage fully with concepts and ideas in the recommended and background reading provided in POLS7107.
The essay should be concise and factual, use active voice, and have a clear structure with a logical flow. Please see the marking rubric in Blackboard for more details. It should not use headings for sections in a research essay, instead, organise your content in an introduction, body, and conclusion. Please consult the POLSIS Essay Guide for more information on essay writing.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task.
Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
You must provide a step-by-step list of all the tasks and prompts you undertook with AI, including the type of AI used, included as an AI Use Appendix to the Research Essay.
A failure to adequately reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
This written assessment must be submitted electronically through Turnitin. The link to the submission page is in the "assessment" section of Blackboard. This electronic copy will be the record of the submission date and time.
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
All extension requests MUST be submitted via my.UQ before the assessment due date and time
Extensions for assessment due dates can NOT be granted in a conversation in a lecture or a tutorial.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Examination
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 38%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
Task description
Conducted during exam period.
•Invigilated in person.
•Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted.
•A 120 minute examination containing short answer questions and an extended answer essay question covering all the course learning material delivered for a possible 38 marks.
You will have a choice of a list of short answer questions and will choose two (2) to answer (approximately 250 words each)
You will have a choice of a list of essay questions and will choose one (1) one to answer (approximately 1000 words)
This assessment task is to be conducted in person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: None of the above criteria will have been met. This student will not have addressed the question, shown no or very little evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: None of the above criteria will have been met. This student will not have addressed the question, shown no or very little evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. The student will have demonstrated a minimal grasp of the chosen topic and will have made an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay. The student will have employed some research which correlated with the argument and will have made a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flow should appear throughout the assignment. This student will have addressed the question, showing evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student will have demonstrated an adequate grasp of the chosen topic and will have made a reasonable effort to provide evidence to support a visible argument. The student will have employed an adequate research base to support the argument and will have achieved a reasonable, if not completely coherent standard of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A recognisable narrative flow should be sustained throughout the essay. This student will have answered the question, showing evidence of adequate research and a degree of understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student will have demonstrated a sound grasp of the chosen topic and will have addressed the argument by providing suitable evidence to support an argument. The student will have employed a comprehensive research base that directly relates to the topic though it may not completely support the argument and will have achieved decent levels of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. This student will have answered the question in a direct, well supported fashion, showing evidence of some wide reading and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student will have demonstrated a very good grasp of the chosen topic and will have addressed the argument by providing a considerable amount of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student will have employed a reasonably extensive and well-organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and will have achieved a high level of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. This student will have answered the question in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employing wide research and showing a sound understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student will have demonstrated a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic and will have succeeded in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student will have employed an extensive and well organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and will have achieved impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. This student will have answered the question in a direct and elegant fashion, employing significant research and showing a deep understanding of the issues at hand. |
Additional course grading information
ﾠGrades will be awarded on the following basis:
1. Fail 1 - 19%
2. Fail 20 - 44%
3. Fail 45 - 49%
4. Pass 50 - 64 %
5. Credit 65 - 74 %
6. Distinction 75 - 84 %
7. High Distinction 85 - 100 %
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Word Length Penalty
The essays are specified in terms of a word-limit range. You must stay within this range, not counting the bibliography or footnotes.
Students should note:
• The Author-date in-text referencing system will count toward the word length;
• References in the Footnote referencing system will not count toward the word length. If you are using footnotes, any content included in footnotes beyond the specific text reference will count towards the word length.
Marking Criteria/Rubric
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Essay Guide
The School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide can be downloaded from the School’s Student Support webpage.
The Guide sets out guidelines you should follow in preparing written assignments.
Essay Writing Assistance
The School of Political Science and International Studies schedules regular “drop-in” sessions designed to provide one-on-one advice and assistance in essay planning and writing.
There is no need to make an appointment and you are encouraged to bring your essay with you.
The day and time of these sessions will be finalized at the beginning of each semester and published on the Student Support webpage.
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills and thus your academic performance in this course.
Library Resources
UQ Library offers training in software, assignment writing, research skills, and publishing and research management.
The University’s library holdings for Political Science and International Studies are primarily located in the Central Library.
There is a help desk in the Library. Students are also welcome to contact the BEL/HASS Librarians for assistance.
Email: librarians@library.uq.edu.au
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Seminar |
Welcome and Introduction to the Course In the first seminar on POLS7107 Globalisation, International Political Economy and Development we will cover the shape and structure of the course, what you can expect to learn, and how the course will be taught using both mainstream and critical IPE (LeBaron, Daniel, Jacqueline, & and Hay, 2020; Ravenhill, 2020). A central aim from the outset is to adopt a fundamentally critical, historically-informed, and deeply interdisciplinary approach, guided by questions about inequalities and injustices in the global political economy of development. |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Seminar |
What is IPE? This week introduces the main themes and issues related to the course. We look broadly at the nature of the IPE field. This week, we explore what we mean by International Political Economy (IPE) as a discipline, its origins, key questions, and historical evolution. In short, we explore what IPE is about. IPE looks at how politics, states, and major institutional and economic actors (eg. Corporations, NGOs) shape the international economy and visa-a-versa. This involves appreciating the "interaction of the market and powerful actors" (Ravenhill, 2020). IPE examines the links between domestic and international economic and political dynamics (Cohen, 2007) and the role of the state and market forces in shaping the domestic and international economy. IPE is concerned with the contemporary dynamics of ‘globalisation’ and ‘de-globalisation’ and governance problems in the international economy. Finally, we see how IPE as a discipline is crucially about who benefits and who loses in the distribution of resources and power, as well as the political economy of inequality at both international and domestic levels. |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Seminar |
Mercantilism and Liberalism This week, we examine two foundational theories of International Political Economy (IPE)—Mercantilism and Liberalism—to understand their contrasting views on global economic integration and the distribution of gains. Moving beyond simplistic distinctions, we will critically examine the asserted relationship between states and markets, exploring how markets are fundamentally politically constructed and operate within specific power dynamics, rather than being apolitical or natural. We aim to understand who benefits and who loses in these arrangements and how various theoretical lenses either illuminate or mask these realities. As we shall see, there are no fixed, uncontroversial ways of understanding IPE. Different theoretical approaches come to different conclusions about what drives the IPE and how we should think about it. Class Rescheduling Notice Due to the public holiday on Wednesday, a make-up class will be scheduled in the same week. Details regarding the date, time, and location will be shared in due course. |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Seminar |
Marxism and Feminism This week provides a contrast with week 3 by turning to critical theories in IPE. Critical theories like Marxism and feminism offer profound insights into how global integration operates, particularly by highlighting underlying power dynamics, exploitation, and persistent inequalities within the international political economy (IPE). These approaches give us tools to critically evaluates competing perspectives on "globalisation" and seeks to understand the complex interplay between economic and political forces, linking the global and the local. Marxism and feminism both contribute to IPE by offering critical, historically-grounded analyses that expose the deep-seated inequalities and power imbalances inherent in global integration. They challenge mainstream assumptions about states, markets, and development, providing a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how contemporary capitalism is shaped by and perpetuates uneven development, racialized structures, and gendered social relations. |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
General contact hours |
Globalisation and De – Globalisation – Trade, tariffs, state capitalism What is, or what was, Globalisation? The transition from the 20th to the 21st century in International Political Economy (IPE) marks a significant shift in focus: from understanding who benefits and loses from greater global integration to grappling with the implications of greater global protection or de-globalization. This week we probe how globalization as we have known it – particularly its "hyperglobalist" form – is either in crisis, undergoing fundamental transformation, or has, in a significant sense, "taken a wrong turn” (Rodrik, 2019). The lecture part of the seminar on this topic will be pre-recorded and available online. During the seminar, students will have an In-Class Test on Theories of IPE. See Assessment for more details. |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
No Seminar: Reading Week This week is a reading week for students to be able to catch up on reading and course material. |
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Seminar |
State Capitalism and the US-China Relationship (Guest Lecture) This week has two parts: First, a pre-recorded lecture on state capitalism and the US-China Relationship. Second, the seminar will be on Planning your Research Essay. |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Seminar |
Global Finance: Financial Instability since the 2008 Banking Crises The growth of international financial markets and financial flows has been the major development in IPE since the liberalisation of the system in the 1970s. In the neoliberal era, financialization means that finance is the dominant force, deeply penetrating even the "real economy" and daily life. Ordinary citizens are increasingly exposed to financial calamities across various fronts. The purpose of this topic is to show how these global financial flows occur and enter crises, and how these concretely shape people’s lives. Financial markets are fundamentally centred on risk management, but critically, they do not eliminate risk; instead, they primarily transfer and reallocate it. This inherent characteristic was profoundly illustrated by the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC), which saw risks shift from over-leveraged borrowers, through the financial markets, and ultimately onto governments and citizens. |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Seminar |
Global Trade, Production and Uneven Development A major feature of globalisation is the expansion of global trade. This week delves into the intricate relationship between global trade, production, and uneven development, moving beyond conventional explanations to explore how these processes are fundamentally shaped by power dynamics, historical legacies of colonialism, and deeply entrenched social inequalities. The key point of this week is to link trade with production because trade is always trade in something and thus trade always also entails production. We will critically examine the concepts of trade, production, and protectionism, revealing their underlying social and political dimensions, and demonstrating how they perpetuate or challenge existing hierarchies in the global economy. As Cox argues, trade is not merely the exchange of goods but a deep expression of underlying power relations, class struggles, and state strategies shaping global production processes (Cox, 1987). The aim this week is to equip you with a nuanced understanding of how macro-level global processes manifest in the everyday lives of individuals and communities, especially in the Global South. |
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Seminar |
Labour, Poverty, and Uneven Development "Labour, Poverty and Uneven Development," brings into focus the crucial role of labor within the global economy, emphasizing that while trade and production have globalized, this process has been profoundly uneven, leading to diverse outcomes for workers worldwide [Week 10 Part 1]. This unevenness in development is intrinsically linked to capitalist expansion and power structures, shaping the circumstances under which people labor globally. Uneven development means that people engage in labor under vastly different conditions across the world. These disparities include variations in wages and opportunities, the prevalence of servile and unfree labor, gender inequalities, and differing legal statuses regarding work and pay. These circumstances are not neutral but are deeply gendered, raced, and classed. |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Seminar |
Gender and States in the IPE A key question this week is to examine how social reproduction is organised by states in response to globalisation. This week deepens our understanding of "Labour, Poverty and Uneven Development" by focusing on the gendered dimensions of labour and state policies. We will explore how states actively shape and respond to global processes through their organization of social reproduction, thereby revealing long-standing "blind spots" in traditional IPE scholarship. This week explores how states manage social reproduction, which encompasses the essential work of caring for people and communities, often invisibly performed in homes. It particularly highlights the gendered dimensions of labour and state policies, arguing that traditional International Political Economy (IPE) has largely overlooked the domestic sphere and its vital contributions. Through the work of scholars like Diane Elson and Juanita Elias, this week we emphasize how gendered assumptions inform and construct wider structures of state policymaking, leading to issues such as the "double burden" on women and the exploitation of female labour in globalized industries. |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Seminar |
Racial Capitalism and IPE How does the framework of racial capitalism deepen our understanding of global political economy, particularly concerning uneven development, and how does it challenge and extend traditional IPE approaches? This week looks at racial capitalism as a critical framework for understanding how race and capitalism are intrinsically linked, challenging traditional International Political Economy (IPE) perspectives that often overlook these connections. We will explore the historical evolution of this concept, from early Marxist scholarship to Cedric Robinson's foundational work, and examine how contemporary analyses apply racial capitalism to critical areas like money and finance. The goal is to highlight how these insights deepen our understanding of uneven development and foster a more critical-historical IPE. |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Seminar |
Technology and IPE: Is AI going to take our jobs and replace women with sex robots? Week 13 on "Technology and IPE: Is AI going to take our jobs and replace women with sex robots? serves as a critical culmination of our POLS7107 course, directly building upon and integrating our prior discussions on Feminist IPE, Marxism, class, racial capitalism, and uneven development. This week aims to illuminate how cutting-edge technological advancements, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), are not merely neutral tools but are deeply embedded within and transformative of global power structures and social relations, revealing new dimensions of exploitation and inequality, and addressing some of the "blind spots" in traditional International Political Economy (IPE). |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.