This course is an overview of the state of contemporary political economy, the zone where politics and economics intersect. It reviews some of the classic concepts and looks at how they are being applied in current research and their relevance to contemporary problems. The syllabus is ecumenical and eclectic, on the assumption that no single approach holds all the answers. Students will be expected to attain a superficial grasp of a broad range of ideas and a thorough mastery of those few approaches that appeal to them. Conceptual approaches to be covered include rational choice, game theory, the evolution of cooperation, path dependency, network analysis, and theories of justice. Contemporary issues to be addressed include the resource curse, corruption, global poverty, the 2008 financial crisis, the state of democracy, and the state of the state. |