POL 230 - Introduction to Political Economy

This course offers an introduction to the field of political economy, the study of how political power shapes economic outcomes and how economic power influences politics. Students will learn the key conceptual foundations of political economy as well as read major works in comparative political economy (CPE) and international political economy (IPE). Key topics include how economic interests are organized, how political institutions shape economic outcomes, how states respond to globalization, and how structures of the international system shape economic outcomes for individual states. Throughout, students will grapple with rich empirical work and debate the merits of various approaches to the study of political economy. This is a survey course and accessible to all majors and does not require prior knowledge of economics or politics.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group II
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Evaluate data and/or sources.
Analyze institutions, formations, languages, structures, or processes, whether social, political, religious, economic, cultural, intellectual or other.
Think in sophisticated ways about causation, social and/or historical change, human cognition, or the relationship between individuals and society, or engage with social, political, religious or economic theory in other areas.