Dr Robert Hancke CBG.6.02

This course is available on the MPhil/PhD in European Studies, MSc in Global Economic History (Erasmus Mundus), MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Fudan) and MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po). 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. EU455 is also one of the three core course options for the MSc Political Economy of Europe, two of which must be chosen.

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.

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars totalling a minimum of 25 hours across Michaelmas Term. This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term, and a review session will be held at the start of the Summer Term to prepare for the online assessment.

One formative essay of 1,200 words on any seminar question. Another essay of 1,500 words will consist of the analysis of the research paper that is presented in class.

Caporaso, J and  Levine, D (1992) Theories of Political Economy, Cambridge; Olson, M (2000) The Rise and Decline of Nations, London: Yale University Press. 

Online assessment (100%) in the ST.

The online assessment for this course will be administered via Moodle.  Questions will be made available at a set date/time and students will be given a set period in the ST to complete the answers to questions and upload their responses back into Moodle.