
Globalization and the International Political Economy / Globaliseerumine ja rahvusvaheline poliit枚konoomika
School of Governance Law and Society
Training and Conference Center
Do you want to understand how money works in our world? Why are some countries rich and some struggle to develop? How did the international financial system emerge and who rules it? In this course, we will study the intersection between politics and the economy to understand how our globalized world economy came to be and who shaped it. We will explore who supports the current order and who challenges it, as well as gain the tools to have an informed discussion about the future of our world.
- 11:00 - 15:15
Target group: High school students and vocational school students, young people taking a gap year.
English at least level B2.
Course schedule:
TIME | TOPIC | LECTURER | ROOM | |
---|---|---|---|---|
08.02.2025 | 11:00-15:15 | Introduction: Globalization and its Discontents. Overview of the course structure and assignments; introduction to key concepts in globalization studies and overview of the main issues in contemporary globalization research; introduction to International Political Economy: What is IPE? How do we use it to study globalization? | Victor Jimenez Rivera | M131 |
15.03.2025 | 11:00-15:15 | Theories in International Political Economy. IPE as a discipline in social science and international relations, overview of the main IPE theories: liberalism, mercantilism, marxism, dependency theory; theories of development, stability, and interdependence. | Victor Jimenez Rivera | M131 |
29.03.2025 | 11:00-15:15 | The History of Global Capitalism: How Did We Get Here? Historical overview of the development of the globalized capitalist economy, tracing the development of early capitalism; European colonial expansion; forceful integration of the global South into the liberal world order; drain and unequal relations in the postcolonial setting | Victor Jimenez Rivera | M131 |
05.04.2025 | 11:00-15:15 | Bretton Woods and the Modern World Economy. Overview of the modern financial system, Bretton Woods institutions and their governance system, the USD and its exorbitant privilege, OPEC and the petrodollar; historical overview of the development of modern institutions throughout the Cold War; overview of present-day advocacy and criticism for the US-led unipolar world system. | Victor Jimenez Rivera | M131 |
03.05.2025 | 11:00-15:15 | BRICS, De-Dollarization and Alternative Governance Structures, Climate Change. Overview of the main alternatives to the US-led Bretton Woods system: BRICS and the push for de-dollarization; alternatives in global finance (BRI, AIIB, NDB); the Russo-Ukrainian War and its implications for global finance (speeding up the development of alternatives, rise of de-dollarization); the challenges presented by climate change | Victor Jimenez Rivera | M131 |
Course coordinator: Kaia Lja拧, kaia.ljash@tlu.ee, 6409369
Course trainer:
Learning outcomes, the course graduate
- understands the main trends in globalization literature and the development of the modern world economy;
- is familiar with the main theories in International Political Economy and how they are applied to globalization studies;
- is aware of current international financial governance structures and the development of alternatives to their dominant position;
- is prepared for future studies in governance and political science, is able to participate in discussions about international politics and finance.