Dr Waltraud Schelkle COW 1.06

This course is available on the MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPA in Social Impact, MPhil/PhD in European Studies, MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po) and Master of Public Administration. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The aim of the course is to engage students with relevant concepts in political economy and their main applications in European studies. The course will anchor the degree in historical and current debates about the nature of political economy, the role of institutions and the pros and cons of different methodological approaches taken by political economists. The aim of the lectures is to outline key political economy concepts and their theoretical background while the seminars explore the uses and limits of the respective concepts through the systematic analysis of relevant research papers.

This course is particularly recommended for students who wish to pursue a research path in political economy, but also for those who have no background in political science and therefore not familiar with conceptual debate.

Among the topics covered are: concepts and theories in political economy; the role of ideas, interests and institutions; the tension between democracy and capitalism; rational choice versus behavioural political economy; two-level games; delegation to independent agents; accountability and legitimacy in policy-making; veto players and joint-decision traps; representation and partisanship.

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

One presentation per student. Two formative essays, each of 1,500 words. One of these essays will consist of the analysis of a research paper.

Caporaso, J and  Levine, D (1992) Theories of Political Economy, Cambridge; Weingast, B.R. and Wittman, D.A (eds) (2006) The Oxford Handbook of Political Economy, Oxford University Press; Olson, M (2000) The Rise and Decline of Nations, London: Yale University Press. 

Essay (40%, 2000 words) and class participation (10%) in the MT.
Online assessment (50%) in the ST.

The online assessment for this course will be administered via Moodle.  A review session will take place in Week 1 of the ST in preparation for this assessment.  Assessment questions will be made available via Moodle in Week 2 of the ST.  Students will answer 2 of 8 questions.  Answers to questions will be submitted in Week 5 of the ST.