International Political Economy in the 21st Century

Roy Smith is Principal Lecturer and Programme Leader for the MA in International Development at Nottingham Trent University, UK.Imad El-Anis is Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the MA in International Relations at Nottingham Trent University, UK.Christopher Farrands is Principal Lecturer in Global Studies at Nottingham Trent University, UK.

"An indispensable core text for undergraduate students of international relations, politics and economics. The authors provide a clear overview of the main theoretical debates in IPE while surveying some of the most important global challenges of the twenty-first century." - David Humphreys, The Open University, UK."This new edition of International Political Economy in the 21st Century provides incisive and accessible material on the ever growing field of International Political Economy. The book recognises the importance of understanding the nexus of contemporary relations between politics and economics in making sense of major issues. The book provides the reader with substantive insight into the often dense field of International Political Economy. It is a must-read for scholars and practitioners of International Political Economy." - Paul Sheeran, University of Winchester, UK.

• IntroductionSo what is IPE?The global jigsawStructure of the book1 The origins and core ideas of internationalpolitical economyIntroductionThe sources of IPEIPE as a critique of IRRealist IR and IPELiberal IPEMarxist IPECriticising the mainstream IR approachesThe practical concerns shaping the evolution of IPERefinements of the traditional theoriesNeo-realismNeo-liberalismA neo-neo synthesis?Neo-Marxist theoriesSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading2 Critical approaches to IPEIntroductionCritical theoryConstructivismFeminismPostmodernism/poststructuralismGramscian approaches to IPEGreen thoughtThe new institutional economics: networks of power, networks of exchangeRegulation theory and IPESummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading3 Business and marketing theories and globalbusiness behavioursIntroductionFour key basic ideasThe global business environment and the different legal environments of businessTheories of multinational business behaviour and impactsRegulation and multinational business strategiesPrivate authority and IPEKnowledge as a global commodityInternational business history and case study analysisSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading4 Globalisation and IPEIntroductionThe globalisation debateOrigins of globalisationExpansion of the European systemGlobalisation of trade and financeCorporate globalisationGlobal culture?MediaGlobal environmental degradationMulti-globalisationSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading5 National, international, regional and global governanceIntroductionThe nature of governanceInternational cooperationActorsIssuesSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading6 TradeIntroductionLiberalismRealism/mercantilismStructuralismThe contemporary trade systemRising levels of tradeFree trade agreementsMNCs and tradeCriticisms of tradeTrade theory and modellingSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading7 Global financeIntroductionTwo stories of financial globalisationThe core ingredients of global financeThe growth of a globalised financial system: a little more historyWhat was the ‘international debt crisis’ and where did it come from?The financial crisis of the 2000sGlobal financial institutionsThe global financial system after the financial crisisSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading8 DevelopmentIntroductionLiberal modernisationThe development problemMillennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development GoalsMajor groupsDevelopment projectsCritical frameworks for rethinking developmentSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading9 EnvironmentIntroductionActors: governmentsActors: multinational corporationsActors: non-governmental organisationsIssues: resource depletionIssues: deforestationIssues: biodiversityIssues: reef systemsIssues: fisheriesIssues: energy securityProcessesSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading10 Technology in the global political economyIntroductionWhat is technology?Technologies as a principal tool of global economic competitionKondratieff cycles and major innovationsOligopoly competition in high-tech sectors: how multinational firms use technology to competeTechnology, work and patterns of global labourLimitations on the role of technologyIntellectual property and technologyTechnology, competition, and mergers and acquisitionsTechnology and the individual person as subject in IPEWho has technology leadership?SummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading11 CultureIntroductionLiberal triumphalismClash of civilisationsAnti-globalisation/structuralist and green thoughtGlobal cultureResistance to cultural hegemonyNon-coercive globalisationSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading12 SecurityIntroductionThe development of ‘new’ security issuesEmerging issuesSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading13 Migration and labourIntroductionUnderstanding migrationEconomic migrationTechnology and migrationLabour in the twenty-first centuryMigration and multiculturalismHuman security, human rights and migrationGovernmental and non-governmental policy responses to migrationSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading14 HealthIntroductionThe health transitionPeople’s Health Movement (PHM)Determinants of healthHealth in the developing worldHealth in the developed worldTechnology and healthSummaryReflective questionsSuggestions for further reading15 Concluding thoughts and remarks