Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

European Union in Global Political Economy

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
SZF_039
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
7.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

The course focuses on conceptual and practical learning and discussion on challenges for EU and Member States, especially small ones, in today’s global political economy. It views EU both as a player in the international economy and as an implementing body for national economic and political interests. Students are expected to develop understanding and knowledge during the course and to be able to trace the origins of various international (global and regional) economic integration processes; will be able to discuss the basic signs of international financial and monetary systems, as well as their impact on the national economic policy and the national economic development; and it will be possible to discuss the influence of EU and its Member States in the global economic system.

Preliminary Knowledge

Basic knowledge of economic processes and concepts. Knowledge of international political relations.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.• Students will build an understanding of modern financial structures and their origins. • Students will be able to identify key economic characteristics of the EU. • Students will understand how a small country gets involved in the global economic system. • Students will be able to assess Latvia’s monetary and fiscal policy.

Skills

1.• Students will be able to trace the origins of various international (global and regional) economic integration processes. • Students will be able to discuss the fundamentals of international financial and monetary systems and their impact on national economic policies and the development of the country’s economy. • Students will be able to discuss institutions of the European Union, their activities and the impact they have on countries in the global economic system.

Competences

1.• Students will have a general understanding of the impact of the European Union, global financial markets and business players. • Students will have an understanding of institutions of the European Union and decision-making in the EU. • Students will be able to analyse market phenomena in international politics and present their findings. • Students will be able to express a harmonised and well-reasoned position about global economic issues and defend their views in the debate.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

-
-
The objective of the report (individual research paper) is to develop analytical skills, so it cannot be descriptive. It should be written on the given topic, not a general topic. It is not an essay and the student cannot simply express his/her opinion. The student should provide justified data and evidence confirming arguments. The report should include three aspects: - clearly specify the problem of the topic; - study the problem by evaluating at least three arguments and statistical data; - the report should end with own arguments, research results, and recommendations. The report should be 5 pages long. It may be in Latvian or English. Each case of PLAGIARISM will be examined by the faculty commission considering possible expulsion of the student. All opinions and data other than those produced by the student must have references in accordance with scientific requirements and formatting. To assess the overall quality of the study course, the student must complete the course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
-
Timely submission of essays (1 page) and the report is a mandatory part of the course. Reports, report presentations and essays must be submitted electronically in .pdf format in the online system. The essay can be written and submitted in Latvian or English.
2.

Examination

-
-
1) Active participation during the seminars and lectures, report presentation – 50%; 2) Essays – 15%; 3) Report – 20%; 4) Exam – 15%.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Introduction. Latvian economy in the 21st century: rises and falls.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Introduction. Latvian economy in the 21st century: rises and falls.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Taking national and global economic decisions. Global of regulation of production and capital.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Taking national and global economic decisions. Global of regulation of production and capital.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Monetary policy and fiscal policy.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

National interests in global economy. Meaning of ideologies.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

National interests in global economy. Meaning of ideologies.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Theoretical approaches to the International Political Economy. Postcolonialism. Marxist approaches to international relations, Globalisation.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Conventional and non-conventional development theories.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Conventional and non-conventional development theories.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvia in EU decision-making about global economy.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvia in EU decision-making about global economy.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Modern financial structure and its origins. Impact of global financial markets and players.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Modern financial structure and its origins. Impact of global financial markets and players.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Economic and Monetary Union. Optimum currency area. Euro area and Eurosystem.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Uncovering myths and stereotypes. Presentations of reports and discussion.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Uncovering myths and stereotypes. Presentations of reports and discussion.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Many edges of the European Single Market. Multiannual financial framework of the European Union.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

European Union and its domestic economic problems: Competitiveness and productivity.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

European Union and its global economic rivals.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Consultations
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Consultations
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Consultations
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Exam
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Exam
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Exam
  1. Unaided Work

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
0

Topics

Exam
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
7.00
Contact hours:
52 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Gilpin, R. 1987. The Political Economy of International Relations. Princeton: Princeton University Press. (fundamentāls mācību materiāls)

2.

Braithwaite, J., Drahos, P. 2000. Global Business Regulation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (unikāls mācību materiāls)

3.

Cini, M., Pérez-Solórzano Borragán N. 2022. European Union Politics. 7th ed. Oxford University Press.

4.

Hamilton, D. S., Quinlan, J. P. 2022. The Transatlantic Economy 2022: Annual Survey of Jobs, Trade and Investment between the United States and Europe, Washington, DC: Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University SAIS.

5.

European Commission. 2023. European Economic Forecast. Summer 2023, Brussels: European Commission DG for Economic and Financial Affairs.

6.

Gatis Krūmiņš (red.). 2017. Latvijas Tautsaimniecības vēsture. Rīga: Jumava. (latviešu plūsmai)

7.

Crisis, Karlis Bukovskis (ed.). 2014. The Politics of Economic Sustainability. Baltic and Visegrad Responses to the European Economic. Riga: Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

8.

Oatley, T. 2019. International Political Economy. 6th ed. New York: Routledge.

9.

Bénassy- Quéré, A., Cœuré, B, Jacquet, P., Pisani- Ferry, J. 2019. Economic Policy. Theory and Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: oxford University Press.

10.

O'Brien, R., Williams, M. 2020. Global Political Economy: Evolution and Dynamics. 6th ed.

11.

Cohn, T. 2020. Global Political Economy: Theory and Practice. 8th ed. New York: Routledge.

12.

Peet, R., Hartwick E. 2015. Theories of Development. Contentions, Arguments, Alternatives. 3rd ed. New York, London: The Guilford Press.

13.

Eichengreen, B., Sussman, N. 2000. The International Monetary System in the (Very) Long Run, Washington DC: International Monetary Fund. (fundamentāls mācību materiāls)

14.

Mundell, R. 1961. “A Theory of Optimum Currency Areas”. The American Economic Review, 51, 4, 657-665. (unikāls mācību materiāls)