ObjectivesThe MA in Global Political Economy provides students with a comprehensive postgraduate education in the relationship between politics an economics, and the state and market in the contemporary global economy. Students are able to study a range of taught modules which provide a detailed understanding of the principal ideas, institutions, policies and governance structures that shape the contemporary global economy.
Academic titleMA in Global Political Economy
Course descriptionAmong the topics covered by the degree are the politics of
global economic performance; globalisation and regionalism;
the theory and practice of governance at all levels from the
global to the local; the political economy of competitiveness
and national economic performance; the causes and
consequences of national and international financial crises;
the governance of international trade; the role of the
International Monetary Fund,World Bank and World Trade
Organisation in the governance of the global economy; and
the politics of the transnational corporation.
This is a degree programme which enables students to
study in detail the very latest developments in the world
economy.The degree may be studied full-time (12 months)
or part-time (24 months).
Programme structure
Core
Political economy in perspective (Semester One)
The aim of this module is to familiarise students with some
of the major ideas, institutions and policies that have shaped
the governance of the post-war international economy.
Governing global finance (Semester Two)
The aim of this module is to provide students with a
systematic understanding of the key contemporary debates
surrounding the globalisation and governance of financial
markets in theory and practice. It covers reforms of the
international financial architecture, the emergence of
private and market authority, managing and preventing
financial crises, and dealing with international financial crime
including money laundering and tax evasion.
15,000 word dissertation on a topic chosen by the student.
In addition, students must take another 40 credits (usually 2
modules) each semester from a list of optional modules
that at present includes but is not restricted to:
• Frameworks of Global Governance
• Globalisation and Practice in Practice
• Political Economy of Development
• Political Economy in Competitiveness
• Critics of Capitalism
• Terrorism, Civil Disobedience and Dissent
• The European Union: Political Integration and Policy
Analysis
• The European Union: National and International
Perspectives
• The International Politics of the Environment I & II
• Political Economy of the Internet
• The Digital Economy and Network Society
• Political Economy of Southern Europe
• Democratic Governance in the European Union
• IR Theory I & II
• Political Theory of Multiculturalism
• Philosophy of the Social Sciences
• Hegel and Marx: Selected texts
Why study Global Political Economy at Hull?
Students are taught by weekly seminars and in small groups.
This method of teaching ensures that each student is given
the maximum opportunity to develop his or her
knowledge of the world economy. On completion of the
taught module component of the degree, students are
given the opportunity to research and write a 15,000 word
dissertation on a topic of their choice in global political
economy.Topics for dissertations have included the political
economy of European competitiveness; the political
economy of structural adjustment; a case study of
Argentina; the political economy of competition policy in
the European Union's single market; the political economy
of the Celtic Tiger; and the political economy of the third
way.
Career progression:Where are they now?
Graduates from the MA Global Political Economy have
gone on to pursue a variety of careers in the public and
private sectors, including working for NGOs, or to study for
a higher degree.
Three graduates have stayed on at Hull to study for PhDs
in the political economy of US foreign economic policy;
the governance of financial markets; and the political
economy of New Labour. Other graduates have on to
study of PhDs at Rutgers, Leuven, Sheffield and Athens,
before embarking upon academic careers at Hull,
Birmingham and Imperial College. Further career paths
have included management consultancy at
PriceWaterhouseCoopers; financial journalism with Dow
Jones Capital Markets; administrative work for a Londonbased
developmental NGO; and administrative work for
the Tanzanian governmen