| Unit name | International Political Economy and Social Policy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL20063 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Kennett |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The main aim of the unit is to understand the connections between the economy, politics and policy from a global and transnational perspective. Having established the historical context, institutions, policies and ideologies through which the international political economy has been developed a key focus of the unit will be to think about how these different elements interact and overlap, and impact on our everyday lives.
How does it fit into your programme of study?
The unit will consider different perspectives for explaining the development of national welfare systems and the evolving nature of the state in social policy and social protection instruments in different parts of the world.
It will then move beyond the territorial boundaries of the state to consider the international political economy of transnational and global social policy in the context of neoliberal globalisation and post-colonialism and the implications for national welfare systems and well-being. It will go on to highlight the multi-scalar dynamics, local specificity, power relations and contestation shaping international political economy, social policy and everyday life with an empirical focus on a range of topics such as global inequality, class and stratification; trade, production and finance; cities and housing; and climate change and the environment.
An overview of content
The unit applies an international and comparative perspective on political economy and social policy. It combines elements of politics and economies to understanding the dynamics shaping social and public policy. It also highlights the nature, role and policy paradigms of key international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in influencing ideas and ideologies around, for example, social protection, global development, and climate change and the environment. The content of the unit will also explore how these dynamics impact on different countries and parts of the world to demonstrate the uneven distribution of power and resources, as well as the ways in which our everyday life is intertwined with and impacted by the international political economy.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will extend your knowledge and familiarity with the multi-scalar dynamics of political economy and become more aware of how these processes interact with and impact their everyday lives and the lives of others.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit you will be able to :
This unit involves a 2-hour interactive lecture and a 1-hour seminar. The weekly seminars will address the different themes covered in the unit and will be student led through discussions, presentations, and debates. This approach to learning will facilitate engagement with and integration of the different and complementary elements of the unit as well as independent learning skills and group work. In addition, learning materials and activities will be added to Blackboard to support and enhance your learning each week.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
You will have the opportunity to prepare a Plan of up to 500 words of your formative assessment Entry for Encyclopaedia of Comparative Policy Economy and Social Policy. You will receive individual and group feedback on the plan which will support your preparation for the formative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Encyclopaedia of Comparative Political Economy and Social Policy Entry (3000 words maximum, 100%)
This assessment covers all of the ILOs.
When an assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL20063).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
