The course aims to offer a general overview of the new international economic order following the end of Cold War. This period is frequently associated with the concept of globalization. The mainstream affirms that this process has been possible because of liberalization, deregulation and in general thanks to a massive reduction of the state intervention. This course will challenge this vision,
Robert Gilpin, The Challenge of Global Capitalism: The World Economy in the 21st Century, Princeton UP, 2011
Luciano Segreto, L'economia mondiale dopo la guerra fredda, il Mulino, 2018
Learning Objectives
Familiarizing students with the most recent trends of the world economy seen in a medium-terme perspective
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of international relations, international economics, economic history
Teaching Methods
Lecturing with regular use of power point presentations previously at disposal of the students - focusing on specific topics and discussion and dialogue with the students about the most recent issues connected with the topics of the course
Further information
This course requires that students participate in class discussions, since the lessons will be based on discussion and not just on direct lessons. This means that students contribute to class discussions by asking questions and making appropriate comments on the topics under discussion. In each lesson, there will be a question time based on both the topics of the course, but in particular on current issues. To this end, students are strongly recommended to read European and international news from newspapers and magazines such as The Economist, Business Week, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy.
Student participation includes group presentations (cgroups will be composed by a maximum of 3-4 students) on specific topics related to the course. This activity will be developed in the final part of the course. Team work should be as international as possible. The list of topics for presentations (duration not exceeding 15 minutes) will be available during the second week of the course. Part of the course will use films and documentaries to explore some of the students' topics. The selected films will be examined together and discussed during the lessons.
Type of Assessment
The group presentation will receive an evaluation of 15% of final mark. The exam consists of the following sections: an individual paper of 7-8 pages double line space on a topic selected by the student and connected with the course (value 25% of final mark). The instructor must approve the proposal before starting researches. Students must sent by email their paper no later than seven days before the date chosen for the exam. The final exam is a 90 minutes written exam subdivided into two sections: the first part has 20 multiple-choice questions (value 20% of the final mark) and four open question the student will select among six questions (value 40% of the final mark).
Non-attending students are requested to write a paper of 15 pages (30,000 bytes), footnotes included, bibliography non included. The paper must be sent by email 7 days before the exam's date. The exam is a written exam based the books by Robert Gilpin, The Challenge of Global Capitalism: The World Economy in the 21st Century, Princeton UP, 2011 (first four chapters) and Luciano Segreto, L’economia mondiale dopo la Guerra fredda, Bologna, il Mulino, 2018
Course program
1 What do they have in common: explaining the myriad faces of globalization
2 An overview of the international economic scenario at the end of Cold War and the unexpected recovery of the US
3. Japan. The cost of the challenging the USA and the lost decades
4. The European Hybrid. Varieties of Capitalism in the Old Continent
5. After Saigon’s fall: the triumph of capitalism in Asia
6. B for Brazil or for bluff?
7. Russia: from socialism to authoritarian capitalism via de-industrialization?
8. India between poverty and high-tech
9 China: the new giant or a partial power?
10 Africa: not anymore the lost Continent?
11 The world of commodities: producers vs. consumers?
12 The financialization of the world economy
14 Conclusions: More or less State with the globalization process?